3 1604 015 927 090
ARCHEOLOGY OF THE
BYNUM MOU
MISSISSIPPI , AT c„
EZ T
TIONAL PARK SERVICE • U. S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
r EO0UL
ARCHEOLOGY OF THE
BYNUM MOUNDS
MISSISSIPPI
by John L. Cotter and John M. Corbett
With additions by
Marshall T. Newman, Volney H. Jones, Henry W. Setzer
and]. P. E. Morrison
Archeological Research Series Number One
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U. S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR • WASHINGTON • 1951
1 his publication is the first of a series of re-
search studies devoted to specialized topics
which have been explored in connection with
the various areas in the National Par\ System.
It is printed by the Government Printing Office
and may be purchased from the Superintendent
of Documents, Government Printing Office,
Washington 25, D. C. Price y$ cents.
United States Department of the Interior
Oscar L. Chapman, Secretary
National Park Service
Arthur E. Demaray, Director
Contents
Introduction 1
The Setting 2
Excavations 5
Methods 5
Mound A 5
Mound B 6
Mound C 9
Mound D 9
Mound E 11
Mound F 11
Village site 11
Ceramic Analysis 17
Type descriptions 17
Baldwin Plain 17
Saltillo Fabric Impressed 18
Furrs Cordmarked 18
Tishomingo Cordmarked 19
Tishomingo Plain 19
Houlka Gray 19
Minority wares 20
Miscellaneous sherds 21
Analysis of pottery found in association with
mounds, features, and burials 22
Conclusions 30
Page
Nonceramic Analysis 37
Copper 37
Galena 39
Stone 40
Flaked stone 40
Ground stone 41
Raw materials 42
Conclusions 42
Specialists' Reports 43
Skeletal material (Dr. Marshall T. Newman) . 43
Vegetal material (Mr. Volney H.Jones) ... 48
Animal bones (Dr. Henry W. Setzer) .... 49
Shell material (Dr. J. P. E. Morrison) .... 50
Analytical Site Summary and Comparative
Statement 51
Conclusions 57
Tables 59
Bibliography 67
Plates 69
Index Ill
in
Acknowledgments
no report of this size and scope ever is accomplished without
the unstinted help of many people. It is impossible to mention
and thank everybody involved, but the authors do wish to express
their appreciation to all who concerned themselves in any way
with the Bynum excavations. Special appreciation is expressed
to Superintendent Malcolm Gardner of the Natchez Trace Park-
way, Regional Archeologist J. C. Harrington, Dr. Jesse D.
Jennings, Parkway Engineer H. R. Smith, and Engineering Aide
Sidney Holditch. We are indebted to Mr. Arthur Woodward,
of the Los Angeles County Museum, for identification of many
of the historic trade goods found with the late Chickasaw burials.
Mr. Woodward's comments have been included in the text dis-
cussion of the remains.
As usually happens, the burden of the routine work fell on
a few people without whose constant efforts and willingness this
report would not have been possible. The authors wish to express
their great appreciation to Miss Joyce Anderson, secretary at the
Natchez Trace Parkway; Mr. Parker Lancaster, foreman in the
field; and Mr. John C. Stone, laboratory assistant.
To the people of Houston, Miss., near which the Bynum site
is located, the authors wish to express their thanks for the con-
stant sympathetic interest they displayed in the excavations while
they were in progress.
Since the Bynum site, purchased by the Mississippi State High-
way Commission as part of the right-of-way for the Natchez
Trace Parkway, had not at the time of excavation been transferred
to Federal ownership, the permission to work granted by the
commission is hereby acknowledged.
IV
Foreword
the natchez trace parkway memorializes a series of Indian
paths that became a wilderness roadway between Natchez and
Nashville and then between 1800 and 1830 successively a post
road and highway binding the Old Southwest to the Union.
The early Indian inhabitants of this country used a network
of beaten paths as hunting courses, warpaths, or trails linking
village with village and tribe with tribe. Pioneer settlers called
such a trail a trace, a word which in old French suggests its
origin as a line of footprints or animal tracks. Use of these
trails by prehistoric Indians is suggested by the remains of mounds,
villages, cemeteries, and fortifications located along the different
routes.
After the coming of the white man, the Natchez Trace assumed
increasing importance as it was used for a military, commercial,
and postal road in the expansion of the United States into the
Old Southwest.
The Parkway, which is to be 450 miles long, is now under
construction and will commemorate the old Natchez Trace. Like
the Trace it will extend from Natchez, Miss., to Nashville, Tenn.,
and will follow fairly closely the route of the old road. It will
feature a motorway along which places of historic interest, such
as parts of the old Trace, "stands" or inn sites, ferry sites, and
Indian mounds, will be preserved and suitably marked to explain
and illustrate the use of the old route.
In order that all of the values which lend distinction and
national importance to the Parkway may be preserved and inter-
preted, the National Park Service is conducting basic studies in
the fields of history, natural history, architecture, landscape archi-
tecture, and archeology. These studies will provide the basic
interpretation of scenes along the Parkway for the enjoyment
of hundreds of thousands of future Parkway travelers.
In advance of constructing section 3F of the Natchez Trace
Parkway, near Houston, Miss., the Bynum mounds, located on
the right-of-way, were excavated to prevent the loss of significant
archeological remains. Studies of this material were necessary be-
fore the remains and the site could be interpreted to the visitor.
This publication, Archeology of the Bynum Mounds, is the
result of those studies. No excavation is ever complete until the
findings have been analyzed and made available to other pro-
fessionals and laymen alike. The careful excavations of Archeol-
ogists Cotter and Corbett have done much to increase our knowl-
edge of a hitherto little-known archeological area and cultural
period. For this reason, I believe this book will be a distinct
contribution to the study of prehistoric America.
tfLfe £&,
VI
Introduction
the natchez trace parkway will be a scenic and recreational
highway primarily for pleasure traffic. In keeping with this
concept, the Parkway has been developed to include turn-offs to
important archeological, historical, and natural sites along the
route. Interpretive roadside displays, a central museum near
Tupelo, Miss., and a leaflet will tell the story of the Chickasaw,
Choctaw, and the earlier prehistoric Indians who lived along
the route of the Trace.
Indian remains are numerous throughout Tennessee, Alabama,
and Mississippi, and the National Park Service realized that
construction of the Parkway might damage some of them. To
salvage in advance of construction whatever was possible for
interpretive purposes, the archaeological survey program for
the Natchez Trace was inaugurated under Dr. Jesse D. Jen-
nings in January 1940. From the survey it was seen that at
least nine important sites would be damaged in one way or
another by construction. These nine sites, on the basis of the
survey material, could be expected to yield a cross-sectional picture
of the Indian cultures which were prevalent along the Trace
from early prehistoric times down, and into, the historic period.
Priority of excavation was assigned to these sites on the basis of
their relative importance to the interpretive program, the immi-
nence of their destruction, and their availability for excavation by
being in Federal ownership.
Top priority was assigned to the Bynum mounds, located a
few miles east of Houston, Miss. This site consisted of a group
of six mounds and associated village remains. The center line
of the Parkway impinged upon the base of one of the mounds and
cut across a section of the village area. Excavations were neces-
sary to save whatever Indian remains might be present.
Of the six mounds at the Bynum site, two had been previously
so mutilated (one by a county road and one by cultivation) that
they yielded little or no information. One other mound was left
untouched so that in later years, if desired, the present excavations
could be checked by more refined techniques. The remaining
three mounds, however, in conjunction with extensive testing and
digging in the village area, showed that the Bynum site was
representative of a short period of American Indian life as it
developed in the Southeast.
The first inhabitants of what is now the southeastern United
States were probably scattered small bands or single families of
hunters, living in no fixed abodes but following the game and
supplementing their meat diet with whatever wild foods they
could gather. They did not know many of the things which
made life easier and pleasanter for the later more sedentary peo-
ples, such as pottery vessels for cooking and storing foods; per-
manent houses; or the bow and arrow (they used the atlatl or
spear-thrower instead). Being constantly on the move in search
of game, their material possessions of necessity must have been
scanty and limited to what they themselves could carry. Pos-
sibly the dog was domesticated at this time, but no beasts of
burden were known or used by the Indians of the Southeast.
Opinions differ as to how long ago these early hunter-gatherers
roamed the southeastern forest country, but it was undoubtedly
several thousand years before the time of Christ.
Many centuries passed, during which new ideas and tech-
niques for gaining a livelihood were either learned by hard
experience or picked up from other tribes to the west. It was
not, however, until the advent of agriculture, that these south-
easterners developed a stable mode of life. It is impossible for
any people without a reliable source of food to find the leisure
time to develop their talents in the arts, crafts, and religion.
One reliable source of food is found in the practice of agriculture.
By growing one or more stable food crops, supplementing that
crop with wild game, fish, and natural wild plants, a group of
people can lead a more sedentary form of existence and devote
part of their time to the manufacture of clothing, housing, weap-
ons, and even personal ornaments.
Again, it is impossible to say just when agriculture first became
known in this area, but present knowledge would indicate that
it was some time in the latter part of the last millenium before
Christ. At about the same time, or shortly thereafter, a knowl-
edge of pottery making was acquired. With the acquisition of
skill in agriculture and pottery production, these people became
possessed not only of an unusually reliable source of food, but
also of better methods of preparing and storing it.
Many of the pottery vessels, of course, were broken in use, and
the pieces, or sherds, were scattered around the village area.
These little pieces of broken ware are very durable and often
remain behind long after other traces of the people have van-
ished. Since they were sometimes decorated, and, since vessels
of different shape and form were made in different periods, the
archeologist has found that these sherds make a very useful tool
for gauging the temporal changes which take place within a
native culture. It is really only after the advent of agriculture
and pottery that the archeologist can begin to trace the different
periods of development and movements of people in the South-
east.
At the Bynum site the first inhabitants knew the use of pot-
tery, and probably also agriculture, though no direct evidence
for such came to light in the excavations. They lived in circular
houses constructed by placing logs or poles upright in the ground
at short intervals from each other and then weaving branches
and thin sticks between the uprights. The outside would be cov-
ered with wet clay which would harden and dry in the sun, form-
ing a solid wall. In the summer they probably lived largely
out of doors, under brush lean-to shelters, and dressed themselves
in scanty clothing. They spent their time hunting, caring for
their crops, erecting new winter homes when necessary, making
a sand-tempered, fabric-impressed pottery, and gathering such
wild plant foods, fish, and shellfish as were available in the sur-
rounding area.
Not long after the site was first occupied (possibly around
A. D. 700), the custom of cremating the dead was adopted. A
large pit would be dug and covered by some type of canopy
structure in which the cremations could take place. After the
bodies were burned, the fragmentary bones were gathered in
clusters, and the crematory pit was covered by a mound of earth.
Such a mound was the one at the north end of the site, called
mound D.
A short time later, either a new group of people moved into
the area, or new customs were adopted regarding the burial of
the dead and the manufacture of pottery, for we find in mound A
that the dead were buried in the flesh, in an extended position,
as well as cremated in situ in a flexed position. At the same time
there appears a new type of pottery, a clay-grit tempered ware
with cordmarked impressions. In mound B we found a mixture
of these and other traits, which leads to the supposition that pos-
sibly two groups of people lived side by side at Bynum for a very
short period and then may have combined together socially, po-
litically, and connubially.
Prehistoric Indians probably lived at Bynum for only a rela-
tively short span of perhaps 100 or 200 years. Elsewhere in the
Southeast are numerous remains of many later cultures which
surpassed in their various techniques those represented at Bynum,
but no evidence for these later cultures was found at Bynum. For
some reason unknown to us, the site was abandoned after its brief
period and was not reoccupied until late in the period of the his-
toric Chickasaw Indians. Several burials of this historic period,
dating around 1820-30, were found overlaying the remains of the
earlier Bynum inhabitants.
At the time the prehistoric Indians were inhabiting the Bynum
site and erecting their burial mounds, other groups were living
in a similar manner elsewhere in the Southeast. So general was
the practice of building burial mounds (for either cremations or
flesh burials) that this period in Southeastern prehistory has been
called the burial mound period. On the basis of certain diagnostic
characteristics, archeologists have divided this period in two, and
chronologically we have Burial Mounds I and II. All the cultural
manifestations present at the Bynum site indicate that it belongs
only to the earlier phase of the Burial Mound period; namely,
Burial Mound I.
While remains of the later prehistoric Indians are absent from
the Bynum site, they are found at other places along the Natchez
Trace Parkway. The extremely large temple mound near Nat-
chez, Miss., known as the Emerald mound, is an excellent example
of the type of great structure erected as a base for temples made
of wood and clay with thatch roofs. Such mounds and temple
buildings were in common use throughout the Southeast in sev-
eral large religious centers shortly before the first arrival of the
Spaniards and other early explorers. Some few were still in use,
especially by the Natchez Indians, when the French first saw them
in 1716. Other sites along the historic old Trace, such as the
Gordon mounds, Pharr mounds, and Boyd mounds, represent
various groups of prehistoric Indians who inhabited those areas
sometime between the occupation of the Bynum site and the
time when the settlers and traders were moving into the south-
eastern section of what is now the United States.
The Setting
the six mounds and associated village area to be discussed in this
report are located on a 15-acre tract purchased by the State of
Mississippi Highway Commission from "Uncle Joe" Bynum, one
of the leading Negro farmers of Chickasaw County. The Bynum
site, MCs-16 in the archeological survey of Natchez Trace Park-
way, is located 3 miles east of Houston, Chickasaw County, in
northeastern Mississippi, on a low ridge east of the main branch
of Houlka Creek, a tributary of the Tombigbee River, in sees.
35 and 36, T. 13 S., R. 3 E. The site, of which about seven acres
retained sufficient original topsoil to merit testing, has an elevation
of 335 feet above sea level.
Physiography. The Bynum site lies at the southern extremity
of the Pontotoc Ridge, a physiographic feature separating drain-
age of the Tombigbee River on the east from that of the Pearl
River, Big Black River, and other Mississippi River tributaries
on the west. The Pontotoc Ridge is bounded on the east by the
Black Belt or Northeast Prairie district, and on the west by the
narrow crescent of flat land known as the Flatwoods.
The soil of the Pontotoc Ridge is generally characterized by a
red sandy loam derived from weathering of alternating beds of
glauconitic sandy marl and limestones known as the Ripley For-
mation (the uppermost division of the Cretaceous in Mississippi)
(Lowe, 1 9 19). An exposure of highly fossiliferous marl on
Houlka Creek half a mile southwest of the Bynum site presents
a variety of shells, Ostrea, Exogyra, Gryphaea, Trigonia, Bacu-
lites, and Scaphites. Although no conclusive evidence of collec-
tion or use of these shells by the inhabitants of the Bynum site
was observed, it is noteworthy that a fragment of one valve was
found at the bottom of a post mold in the village site, where it
might have served as a scooping implement.
At present, over a century of erosive row cropping has removed
an estimated 2 to 3 feet of topsoil at the Bynum site, completely
or partially destroying what may have been the major portion
of cultural deposit. The acidity of the soil here has not been
conducive to the preservation of bone, which further reduced
the data.
Ecology. The climate of northern Mississippi is characterized
by a mean annual temperature of 62.4 , with the average first
killing frost October 30 and the last March 28. The high atmos-
pheric humidity and average annual precipitation of 50 inches,
coupled with an annual average of 55 days with maximum tem-
perature above 90 , make for a long growing season in which
certain crops can be cultivated intensively. March is the wettest
month, with an average precipitation of 6 inches and October
the driest, with 2 inches. Summer rains are usually local, winter
rains general; snow averages 3 inches.
The following observation on the vegetation of Chickasaw
County area circa A. D. 1800, furnished by Dr. W. B. McDougall,
Natchez Trace Parkway naturalist, would presumably carry well
back into the prehistoric era, since no great climatic change is
suggested for the last 800 years.
Before white men began extensive cultivation of the soil in Chickasaw
County, Miss., the vegetation must have consisted mainly of three types,
hardwood forest, pine forest, and grassland. The grasslands were found
mostly along the eastern side of the county which is a part of the so-called
northeast prairie. This prairie was characterized by such grasses as broom-
sedge (Andropogon virginicus), little bluestem (Andropogon scopanus), and
bentawn blumegrass (Erianthus contorttis) as well as by many flowering
plants such as rosinweeds (Silphiiim) and prairieclovers (Petalostemon).
The hardwood forest, dominated by the Southern red oak (Quercus jalcata)
along with several other species of oak, several hickories (Carya), the tulip-
tree (Lirwdendron talipifera), and, on hills, the chestnut {Castanea dentata),
is the climax type of vegetation in the county and it undoubtedly occupied
extensive areas west of the northeast prairie. However, wherever the climax
forest had been destroyed or prevented from developing by fires, forests of
shortleaf and loblolly pines (Pinas echinata and P. teada) occurred, and these
may have been as extensive as the hardwood forests or even more so. Of
course, the boundary between the northeast prairie and the forested areas
was not a sharp line clear across the county but was, in a sense, a transition
zone. Thus, there were probably openings in the forest that were occupied
largely by grasses and perhaps it would be a natural thing for the Indians to
select these openings as places for the development of villages.
From the analysis by Dr. Henry W. Setzer of animal bone
material recovered at the Bynum site, presented on page 49, it
will be seen that the most common game animal was deer (Odo-
coileus virginianus) which accounted for 85 percent of all identi-
fied nonhuman bone material in the village site. Raccoon was
next with 10.4 percent, and fox, opossum, and bobcat with one
specimen or 1.5 percent each. The mounds yielded no precedent
animal bone material, and in only the fill of mound A were teeth
of bison and beaver in small quantity. The partial skeleton of a
domestic cat found immediately below the surface is discounted
as subsequent to modern plowing.
Despite the relative unimportance of any game but deer, there
must have been many other game and nongame animals in the
area in prehistoric times. Among the bone traces too fragmen-
tary for identification were small fish vertebrae. It is possible that
soil conditions adverse for preservation eliminated more small bone
traces, including bird, of which no traces were recorded.
Probably no important difference, except in numbers, existed
in the reptile population of Chickasaw County between prehis-
toric and historic times. Today the common snakes here are the
worm snake (Carphophis amoena helenae) (Kennicott); ring-
neck (Diadophis punctatus punctatus) (Linne); black racer {Co-
luber constrictor constrictor) (Linne); blotched chicken snake
(Elaphe obsoleta confinis) (Baird and Girard); blotched king
snake (Lampropeltis calligaster) (Harlan); mole snake (Lampro-
peltis rhombomaculata) (Holbrook); copper-bellied moccasin
(Natrix erythrogaster erythrogaster) (Forster); Graham's water
snake (Natrix grahamii) (Baird and Girard); diamond-back
water snake (Natrix rhombijera rhombifera) (Hallowell); De-
Kay's snake (Storeria def^ayi) (Holbrook); garter snake (Tham-
nophis sirtalis sirtalis) (Linne) and cotton-mouth moccasin (Ag-
kjstrodon piscivorus) (Lacepede).
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Excavations
METHODS
Field methods. The entire mound and village area of the
Bynum site as defined by surface indications was laid out in a
ioo-foot grid with a hypothetical o-o coordinate well beyond the
site to the southwest. All points on the plan of the site could
thus be determined by the intersection of east and north coordi-
nates which were designated in feet and tenths, thus: N. 1800,
E. 1785.6. In this way, the complexity of distinguishing a series
on a o-line and using four cardinal directions or "right" and
"left" to designate lines on the grid was avoided.
Hub stakes were placed at 100-foot intersections and i-foot con-
tour maps were made of all mounds. Five-foot grids were laid
out on mound surfaces and basal areas and 10-foot grids were
used in portions of the village to be excavated. Plats of features
and burial locations were drawn with the use of alidade, tape, and
plane table on a grid. Drawing on data sheets was sometimes
facilitated by use of a 5-foot square grid oriented by set stakes and
placed over the object or feature to be drawn.
Notations were made on feature data and burial data forms,
and a photographic record was made of all important locations
with 34x5 Graflex view-type camera for black-and-white prints
and with a 35 mm. Argus camera for kodachrome transparencies.
The record includes 400 kodachrome and over 300 black-and-
white photographs, all annotated on photo data sheets. Field
specimens were assigned a serial number in the field by packaging
in lots of identical provenience (with associated square, feature,
or burial and depth), using a bag or box on which the number
and data appeared in a stamped form. Identical data were entered
on field specimen data sheets in the field. As soon as specimens
were cleaned in the laboratory, they were individually marked
with the field specimen number.
Verbal descriptions were entered on continuation sheets ap-
pended to drawings and data sheets on mounds, features, and
burials or other subjects of observations. A daily progress log of
the work was also kept.
Mound excavation was initiated from 10 to 25 feet from the
apparent basal edge of the fill, depending on the size of the mound.
A 5-foot trench was begun, usually on the west side, extending
well beyond the parallel diameter of the mound, and a test to
undisturbed earth was made for post mold patterns. Additional
5-foot strips were uncovered until the base of the mound was
reached; then the mound wash and fill were located succes-
sively. Excavation progressed in 5-foot cuts. Profiles were
drawn, and a photo record was made. As inclusive features were
found, care was taken to preserve them from damage while the
fill above was stripped away.
In the case of mound B, the fill was cut away in successive
profiles to the center. Then the east side was cut away over
the interior submound feature until the master profile at the
approximate center was reached, leaving a 5-foot strip intact,
tepresenting a cross section of the mound. Reason for this
procedure was threefold: first, to provide a true pictorial cross
section, second, to preserve an in situ exhibit which was ulti-
mately decided against, and, third, to provide protection for the
workmen from the north wind since the project was being carried
en through December and January.
At mound A work was necessarily planned to take advantage
of the large excavation already made in the center, which was
cleared out and extended to open the mound completely through
the center. Profiles were then developed parallel to this cut from
the east and west sides.
Circular post mold patterns were tested for depth and the con-
tents of the molds troweled out in 0.5-foot levels by developing
a trench inside the pattern circumference and sectioning the
molds. Thus, all molds could be accurately measured in depth.
When superimposition of mold patterns made trenching imprac-
tical, the molds were excavated individually in 0.5-foot levels.
It should be noted that the Bynum site offered little opportunity
for stratigraphic observation. The mounds were designed to
cover burials, and were built in a continuous effort without evi-
dent interruption so that differentiation could only be made be-
tween contemporaneous inclusions and precedent specimens and
features associated with village deposits sealed off by the mound
fill. In the village site, the best point of reference was the "plow
line" — the line of maximum penetration of the plowshare — above
which disturbance was total, and below which objects and features
were assumed to be undisturbed except for root and burrow intru-
sions. Where depth of deposit occurred, records were kept by
0.5-foot levels.
Three complete sets of field notes were made, one for the per-
manent record of Natchez Trace Parkway, one for use of the field
archeologist, and one for the laboratory archeologist.
MOUND A
This mound, 55 feet in diameter and 10 feet high, was selected
for first operation at the site because little was expected to be
gained from its excavation except the training of the crew. A
large and deep cellar in the southern three-fifths of the mound
seemed to preclude chances of locating an undisturbed central
feature. After mound A had been stripped of vegetation and
the cellar cleared to its original dimensions, it was found that the
central burial feature lay undisturbed only 1.5 feet below the cel-
lar floor.
Structure. Evidence showed that mound A fill was laid down
beginning with village topsoil which formed a 5-foot truncated
nucleus on which was added cleaner subsoil to complete the
mound contour. No burials or features were noted in the mound
fill above the floor feature and no intrusions were found, except
the cellar which had been dug about 50 years previously and
abandoned within the last 10 years.
Features. Feature i consisted of a single log resting longitudi-
nally north-south on the mound floor near the western periphery.
Beside the log was an irregularly shaped pit 1.1 feet in depth below
the mound floor and having a post mold extending through the
pit bottom, but not the fill, to a depth of 1.4 feet below the pit
floor. The pit fill was sandy soil slightly darkened by ash and
charcoal traces. No artifacts or burials were associated.
Feature 2 was a lenticular charcoal fire pit, maximum thick-
ness 0.3 foot, diameter 2 feet, on undisturbed sandy-clay mound
floor beneath the southeast periphery of the mound. No arti-
facts or bones were associated. The pit was precedent to the
mound and was evidently inclusive in the same village deposit as
feature 7, the circular pattern of post molds partly underlying
mound A.
Feature 3 designated two horizontal parallel log molds lying
10 feet apart in the burned floor area of mound A center and
extending south of this area. These logs, 21.7 feet long by 1.9
feet in diameter and 21.1 feet long by 1.6 feet in diameter, were
also burned, and the bark was reduced to charcoal which lay
intact at the bottom of the mold. Oak was the species indicated.
Between the parallel logs lay burial 1, extended, accompanied
by burials 2 and 3, flexed, at head, and burial 4, indeterminate,
at foot. A small cluster of potsherds lay between burials 1 and 4.
These logs constituted the only observable structural element
in the central tomb feature of mound A. Four small vertical post
molds scattered between the logs lay entirely beneath the tomb
floor and were sealed off by it, hence were not associated.
Feature 5, at the floor of mound A, was an irregular patch of
fire-marked clay, burned deep red, and extending two-thirds the
length of the parallel logs to the south and 10 feet beyond to the
north. This clay was probably added deliberately to the depth
of 0.1 foot on the original soil surface, since the undisturbed old
topsoil below is an average of 0.6 foot thick as it rests on the basal
red clay. The burned clay layer, however, shows no evidence of
puddling.
Feature 7 was a series of 25 post molds forming a partial cir-
cular pattern lying beneath the floor of mound A at the northeast
quadrant and associated with the precedent village soil. Approx-
imately half of a circular pattern was preserved beneath the mound
fill; the remaining half originally lay outside the mound and had
been destroyed by erosion, except for dubious traces. A total of
18 sand-tempered sherds was recovered from these molds. (See
sherd analyses by feature.)
Burials.
Burial i. A small middle-aged female lay extended on the
back, head to the north, on the middle portion of a burned floor
area of mound A between the large horizontal parallel logs of
feature 3. Evidently the paramount burial of the mound, the
skeleton was adorned with the only certain grave goods of the
tomb — a pair of double cymbal-type copper spools on each wrist
(pi. 12, fig. 3). A small cluster of sand-tempered sherds lay
approximately 0.6 foot south of the location of the feet on the
burned floor. The bones of burial 1 were in poor condition and
the lower leg bones and feet were not preserved. Only the skull,
radii, and ulnae were sufficiently intact for removal. Associated
on the same burned floor area between the parallel logs were
burials 2 and 3, which lay beyond the head to the north. Burial
4, probably a child, identified only by pieces of tooth enamel, lay
5 feet south of the feet of burial 1 and outside the burned floor
area. Burial 1 was not fire-damaged; 2, 3, and 4 were in situ
cremations.
Burial 2. This small, lightly flexed adult, probably young, lay
on the burned floor (feature 5) area of mound A, head to north,
less than 2 feet north of the head of burial 1. The bones showed
signs of calcining and were reduced to barely definable traces
on the hard floor area. No bones were measurable. No grave
goods were found.
Burial 3 was a second small, lightly flexed adult, partly en-
croaching on burial 2 and continuing north, head oriented north,
and lying on the burned floor area of feature 5 and also within
the parallel log frame. The heavily calcined bones were almost
entirely obliterated. No grave goods were associated.
Burial 4. This burial was inferred mainly by tooth caps and
scattered enamel, indicating a child with milk teeth. The traces
were calcined. The tooth caps lay 5 feet south of burial 1 between
the massive parallel logs but outside the burned floor of feature 5.
The mound floor here was compacted clay-filled soil below which
lay the basic undisturbed red clay.
MOUND B
This dome-shaped burial mound, 80 feet in diameter and 14
feet high, indicated by its structure that the original basal diameter
may have been nearer 60 to 65 feet. Probably the original height
was considerably greater and the shape more conical. From 10 to
20 feet of the peripheral area was most likely erosional wash from
the mound slopes.
Features. Feature 8, the central feature over which mound B
was constructed, consisted of an irregular rimmed oval pit, inside
dimensions 38 by 30 feet, exterior rim 46 by 38 feet, with maxi-
mum inside depth of 3.8 feet. It was sunk through the original
topsoil into sterile red clay. A small subpit extended 1.4 feet
below the primary pit floor and showed evidence of having con-
tained a very hot fire that burned the walls bright red.
The primary pit rim was characterized by parallel log molds,
estimated 0.15- to 0.4-foot diameter, which arched over the rim
radially. Because no charcoal adhered to the bottom of the casts
and since the casts were complete, it may be assumed that the logs
rotted rather than burned. Beneath the western portion of the
primary pit rim and molds lay a large deposit of charred vegetal
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FIGURE 3
material and potsherds. A smaller deposit was located similarly
in the northern portion of the rim.
The floor of the primary pit consisted of a deposit of ashes,
from o.i to 0.3 foot thick, pure at the bottom and increasingly
mixed with sandy mound fill above, directly in contact with sterile
basic red clay. In this ash layer slightly above the sterile clay lay
three cremations of human bones, dried before burning as indi-
cated by checking of surfaces, accompanied by an L-shaped row
of 29 stone celts and a cluster of 9 spear points. A flesh burial
of an adult, extended on the back, lay near the east rim, not in
close association with any artifacts. The subpit beneath the pri-
mary pit floor contained a fourth cremation of dried human bones
and a second cluster of 8 spear points. This small pit was heavily
fire-marked.
Near the west rim were two pairs of copper spools. These two
pairs were found approximately a foot apart, and each spool of
each pair was 0.1 foot from its mate. These spools were unasso-
ciated with any other artifacts or with a burial. Their arrange-
ment, however, was similar to those in mound A which were
found on the wrists of burial 1. Though no signs of a burial
were encountered at this point, it is possible that a flesh burial
with copper spools on the wrists once lay there. Preservative
conditions in mound B were much worse than in mound A.
The four copper spools of mound B were in a more advanced
state of deterioration than those of mound A, and as the flesh
burial in mound A had partially disappeared, it is possible that
the one in mound B had completely disappeared — the only trace
remaining being the spools left in position as though attached
to the wrists.
Settled in the ashes of the primary pit floor were horizontal
log molds, sometimes indicative of a rectangular framework.
When the ash layer covering the primary pit floor was completely
removed, 16 large and deep vertical molds were observed extend-
ing from the floor level into the basic red clay. At the bottom
of one of these molds lay a stone celt. The average depth of the
molds was 2.26 feet below the bottom of the primary pit. The
oval shape of the pits originally dug to accommodate the posts
was relevant to their depth, and their average length at the top
was 2.56 feet, breadth 1.54 feet. A hole considerably larger than
the actual mold had been dug in order to obtain working room.
A characteristic aspect of these molds was that the axis of the
oval outline was east-west and the east wall slanted from the top
(east) to the bottom (west) and bore the imprint of bark.
The deep molds beneath the primary pit floor of feature 8 can
hardly be described without involving interpretation. As a group
of post molds they are unique at the site in that the logs within
them made a slanting impression in a uniform direction. If these
molds supported a structure, the structure must have tipped over
eastward with the interior upright supporting logs leaning into
the fill of the slanting post hole.
What caused this superstructure to sag eastward is unknown,
but possibly the roofing was too heavy and massive for the sup-
porting logs. Or, as there are ashes on the pit floor and indica-
tions that the roofing burned, this partial collapse may have
occurred at the time the structure began to burn. The support-
ing logs burned off down to the level of the pit floor, ashes from
the roofing covered them, and later the remaining portions of the
logs rotted, leaving the slanting molds below the ash layer.
The radiating small log molds over the rim could be explained
as sides of the structure which were shallowly imbedded on the
outside of the rim and collapsed inward, arching over the rim.
If the structure burned, however, it is not likely that all of these
slender logs would have survived to make complete molds.
Hence, it is probable that the branches were laid or bent over the
rim to form a pattern as a part of the trimming of the ceremonial
pit. Thus, laid flat, the branches would have escaped burning
and would have rotted subsequently, leaving a mold without
charcoal and ash content, as indicated by observation during the
uncovering of the mold pattern.
The deep subpit may have contained fire, possibly for cremation
purposes, before the structure over the primary pit disappeared
and the ashes were deposited on the primary pit floor.
Since none of the artifacts associated with the primary or sub-
pit shows fire-marking or damage, it must be assumed that the
secondary deposition of cremated remains and the placement of
the flesh burial or burials and artifacts took place after the fire
had completely cooled and the ash layer covered the whole pit
area. This is in contrast with the burned floor of mound A where
cremations took place in situ for flexed burials which accompanied
a paramount extended flesh burial. The discovery of a celt in
the bottom of a deep post mold beneath the primary pit floor
indicates the celt was originally part of a cluster of points and
celts near burial 6 and that one celt slipped down into the hollow
left by the disintegration — by rotting, since the log would hardly
burn in the mold.
The poor condition of the extended flesh burial, No. 5, and
the complete absence of bones with the two pairs of copper spools
might be explained by the fact that the rimmed pit of feature 8
was a natural catch basin for all moisture seeping through the
mound from the surface in acid soil; hence, the rotting of un-
burned bone was hastened. The calcined bone, being less subject
to acid reaction, remained intact.
The construction of mound B was begun directly after the
placement of burials and artifacts on the ashes of the main pit,
and all evidence points to the uninterrupted adding of basket
loads of earth until the mound was completed. The loads were
more distinct and varied in material than those of mound A and
were often composed of red clay subsoil, gray or white sand, and
mixtures of these.
Further observations on the evidence observed on the rim and
in the pit include the locating of a particle of galena on the south-
west rim of the pit, under the rim log molds, and a pair of spear
points, one of which lay directly above the top of a deep floor
mold. Two small bits of shell (Busycon perversum) were located
on the primary pit floor.
Concerning the actual mound construction, it may be noted at
mound B that the loading of the mound fill showed arching over
the rim and a corresponding dipping of loads toward the pit
8
floor. Thus, the loading probably began at the rim, and the
central pit remained a relative depression until the mound was
half completed.
Burials. Burial 5 was the only certain flesh burial located in
the primary pit floor of feature 8, mound B. Traces of a femur
and tibia northwest of the skull indicated an extended position
with head to the southeast. The body, except the head, lay on
the packed-clay floor of the pit, and the head rested on top of a
bed of ashes that completely filled a small cup-shaped hollow, 0.9
foot deep. The skull, femur, and tibia, however, showed no
traces of burning. No artifacts were associated except for four
potsherds, all sand tempered, in the ash-filled hollow beneath the
skull, and these were undoubtedly chance inclusions.
Burial 6 consisted of cremated bones, highly fragmentary and
completely calcined, showing small cracks or checking assumed
to indicate burning when dry (Webb and Snow, 1945, pp. 188-
189). This cluster was circular, 1.5 feet in diameter, and lay
in ashes on the packed-clay floor of the primary pit of feature 8.
This cremation was at the east end of an L-shaped series of pol-
ished stone celts which terminated with a cluster of nine flaked
spear points. The cremation lay directly above a large, deep post
mold extending 2.8 feet below the pit floor and containing a celt
at the bottom.
Burial 7. This cremation was represented by a small dense
cluster of human calcined bone fragments on the floor at the south
end of the fire pit, extending 1.7 feet below the floor of the primary
pit of feature 8. As in burial 6, the bones showed checking, as if
they had been burned after drying. One of the calcined frag-
ments retained a green stain, probably from oxide of copper. Two
feet away in the rounded southeast corner of the pit lay a cache
of eight spear points comparable to the cache of points with
burial 6.
Burial 9. The second cremation on the primary pit floor of
feature 8 was a cluster of calcined bone fragments lying between
the row of polished stone celts and the southwest rim of the pit.
Like the other cremation of feature 8, the bone fragments showed
checking and probably were dry when burned. Although two
pairs of double cymbal-type copper spools lay at the same level,
2.5 feet to the southwest, there is no demonstrable association.
The spools may have accompanied a flesh burial which com-
pletely disintegrated.
Burial 10. The third cremation to be found on the primary
pit floor, was located immediately inside and below the north rim
of the pit. The calcined bone cluster appeared to have been
gathered into a circular pile and deposited in a mixture of ashes
and dirt. The bone fragments had the characteristic checking
of those which are burned when dry. No artifacts lay in direct
association with burial 10, and the series of celts and cache of
spear points near burial 6 were the closest artifacts aside from
scattered sherd material in the floor ashes and on the pit rim.
MOUND C
This mound, a small intact conical structure showing no damage
other than normal erosion, was left unexcavated.
MOUND D
Mound D, diameter 45 feet, height 6 feet, located 1,200 feet
north of mound B, was the smallest of the three mounds excavated,
if the small mound remnants E and F are excepted.
Features. Feature 35. In its interior burial feature mound
D corresponds to mound B rather than to mound A in that the
fill was placed over a central primary pit, 10 by 7 feet, this time
rectangular and 0.3 foot deep, but evidencing at least a partial
rim overlaid on the west side by a horizontal series of small
parallel log molds. A single polished-stone celt was the only
artifact associated with this primary pit floor, if sherds on the
rim and in the fill directly above the floor are excepted. A circular
pit, 2.8 feet deep and 5 feet in diameter, was sunk beneath the floor
of the primary pit into sterile red clay. This pit was filled with
charcoal and ashes and the clay sides bore marks of intense heat.
Within the fire pit just below the east rim in fire debris lay traces
of human tooth caps associated with one copper spool and a bead
of rolled copper. From 2.5 feet to 4 feet beyond the respective
corners of the rectangular primary pit were four large post molds
extending from 3.5 to 3.7 feet below the top of the old sod at the
mound base. Here the indication of a single canopy mounted
over the central feature on 4 stout posts set outside the primary
pit is in contrast with the 16 large posts set in the floor of the
primary pit of mound B. Like the post-supported structure of
mound B, however, these four posts evidently were intended to
support a heavy roof structure which was probably burned.
Feature 31 was a cluster of sherds located on old sod under
the peripheral wash zone of mound D and precedent to the
mound. The sherds are exclusively sand-tempered. These sherds
are included in the tabulation of mound D as a whole.
Feature 32 consisted of two associated sherd clusters lying, like
feature 31, on old sod beneath the peripheral drift area of mound
D, 1.3 feet below the present sod line. All sherds are sand-
tempered.
Feature 34, a shallow pit, oval, 6 by 3.5 feet, measuring only
0.2 foot interior depth below the old sod, was situated beneath
the peripheral wash area of mound D. The contents were meager
and included only charcoal, burned clay, and a few sherds which
are exclusively sand-tempered.
Feature 36. A sherd cluster apparently from a single pot of
sand-tempered type, Baldwin Plam, was deposited on the rim
of the primary pit of feature 35, mound D, at junction with the
old sod line.
Burials. Burial 30. This burial, largely conjectural, based on
the finding of human tooth enamel fragments in association with
a copper spool and a bit of rolled copper bent into a crude bead
was located in the top of the fire pit of feature 35, mound D.
The tooth traces were unaccompanied by other skeletal evidences
in the remaining fire debris of this deep subpit, since neither
calcined nor unburned bone of any kind was noted. Hence,
the possibility of the inclusion of a cranium alone or even a few
teeth cannot be denied. There is a possibility of a cremation here,
the bones of which were removed from the pit for burial else-
where.
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FIGURE 4
The over-all purpose of mounds A, B, and D can be compared
as follows:
Similarities. All three mounds were erected over burials placed
on burned areas and amid ashes. All contained copper spools as
grave offerings and mounds A and B included at least one ex-
tended flesh burial. The pottery of the fill and features of the
three mounds is preponderantly sand-tempered fabric and plain.
Pottery sealed off in precedent formations by each mound is
exclusively so.
Similarity of the mound D central feature (No. 35) to the
central feature of mound B (No. 8) is apparent in the respective
subpits within primary pits, each subpit evidencing intense heat.
It is curious here that the body belonging to the tooth caps was
not cremated, otherwise the calcined bones should have been
preserved. The almost complete disappearance of unburned bone
is explainable by the continuous presence of slightly acid moisture
in the fire pit, which acted as a catch basin for water filtering
through the mound fill.
Dissimilarities. Mound A burial floor was a flat burned clay
area; mound B burials rested on the bottoms of a primary and
secondary subpit; and the mound D burial traces were in the fill
of a secondary subpit. Mound A contained four cremations;
mound B contained four; Mound D, one. Mound A burials were
not accompanied by stone celts and flaked spear points as were
the burials of mound B. Mound D subpit burial may not have
been intentionally associated with the single celt on the primary
pit floor.
Dissimilarities in burial customs are more marked between
mounds D and A than between D and B, the only important
traits shared by all three being copper spools as grave goods, and
sand-tempered pottery, plain or fabric-impressed. It is especially
notable that all pottery in the fill or beneath the fill of mound D
was exclusively sand-tempered, plain or fabric-impressed.
An interesting contrast exists in arrangement of deep post molds
in connection with the submound pit features of mounds D and
B. In mound D a single canopy was mounted on 4 stout posts
set outside the primary pit, whereas in mound B, 16 large posts
were set in the floor of the primary pit and evidently intended to
support a heavy roof structure which was later burned.
MOUND E
Mound E was a small remnant almost obliterated by a county
road which had been cut through the middle and east portions.
The location was halfway between mounds B and D. The west
rim of mound E was sufficiently intact to permit an exploratory
trench to be dug into what remained of the original fill. On the
apparent loading bottom, above the undisturbed earth, were traces
of a darker reddish zone, approximately 0.1 foot thick, which
increased in distinctness toward the center of the original mound.
This layer may have corresponded to the floor of mound A.
No artifact material or bone was found in the exploratory trench.
Mound E could not have been large, an approximate diameter
of 50 feet being indicated by the rough arc of the west remnant.
MOUND F
This small mound, located at the south end of the site, 50 feet
southwest of mound C, had been plowed down almost beyond
recognition in recent years, although local residents recalled a
definite mound having existed on the spot. Excavation showed
the mound to have been eroded beneath the assumed tomb feature,
the present elevation of 1.5 feet representing only a relative dif-
ference in relation to the surrounding surface. The only cultural
evidence aside from a few scattered sherds, mostly near the sur-
face, was a greenstone celt located on the surface.
Like mound E, mound F must have been small, probably not
over 50 feet in diameter.
VILLAGE SITE
The 7-acre village area identified between mounds A and D
and extending 700 feet west of this axis can be summarized as
demonstrating occupation from the prehistoric period of exclu-
sive sand-tempered pottery through the period of clay-grit tem-
pered pottery and, with a hiatus, the historic Chickasaw in the
early nineteenth century. The area of occupation lies on a gently
rounded ridge between two small branches of Houlka Creek
where erosion concurrent with row crop farming has removed
from 2 to 3 feet of the topsoil since the close of the nineteenth
century.
As excavation began, it became obvious that post holes of old
structures once buried under later debris were now partially
eroded and the subsequent debris had left only a filtering of arti-
facts on the denuded topsoil. Prehistoric flexed burials in oval
pits often lay directly in the plow zone. Only peripheral areas
of the village site which had not been plowed for many years
yielded historic Chickasaw material which lay on the remains of
earlier occupation. Thus, stratigraphy at the entire site was dem-
onstrable only in the cases of the sealing off of village features
by mound fill, as in mound A, feature 7, and the superimposition
of Chickasaw burials on the circular patterns of post molds of
feature 24. Stratigraphy could be inferred from a comparison of
the artifact content of post molds of circular structure patterns
in the village, such as features 14, 19, 24, and material from the
surface to the plow line. Likewise, contents of fire and refuse
pits in the village could be analyzed by depth. But in these cases
it was obvious that artifacts, even though sealed in post holes
beneath the plow line, whatever depth, could never be contempo-
raneous with the original structures which had to disappear and
their timbers rot to the bottoms of the molds before the final depo-
sition of later detritus in the molds and pits took place. It can
only be inferred that, ii a uniform type of pottery prevails in the
sealed post molds, that type is closer to the period of the structure
than the admixture ol other types in the disturbed plow zone.
Features. The following features were identified with the vil-
lage occupation area at the Bynum site: (Note that the circular
patterns of post molds lie consecutively in a southeast-northwest
axis, except feature 22 and a dubious pattern, feature 20.)
891131 o— si-
ll
Feature 7 designates a 35-foot circle of single post molds par-
tially sealed off by mound A and yielding sand-tempered Saltillo
Fabric and Baldwin Plain sherds exclusively.
Feature 14. This 60-foot circle of post molds was visible at
the plow line. The mold diameter averaged 0.62 foot; depth
below plow line averaged 2.28 feet (maximum 4.2 feet, minimum
0.6 foot).
Within the circle were apparently scattered molds, perhaps be-
longing to roof supports or partitions within the structures. The
entrance was uncertain, possibly to the northeast, with a baffle
screen inside. A mold 2.9 feet deep marked the center of the
circle. Near the north perimeter one shallow fire-marked pit
basin 2 feet in diameter and a shallow pit 3 feet in diameter, con-
taining burned clay and charcoal but not fire marked at the
edges, constituted the only interior features other than molds.
The contents of the circle molds showed sand-tempered pottery
increasing with depth until it was exclusive at the 3- to 4-foot
level. The greatest percentage of clay-grit sherds occurred in the
first foot at the top of the molds.
Feature 16. This 5- by 3-foot ovoid refuse pit at N. 2062,
E. 1468, unassociated with any other feature or burial, had a
depth of 2 feet below the sod line. A distinguishing characteris-
tic was a cluster of red chert chips 0.8 foot in diameter and ex-
tending from the plow line to 0.1 foot below. Sherds found in the
pit totaled 116 and were all sand-tempered except one, which was
limestone-tempered. Unfortunately, the depth at which this lime-
stone-tempered sherd was found was omitted by the workman.
It is indicated that this pit was filled during times when sand
temper was prevalent. One Marksville stamped sherd suggests
the pit was filled just prior to clay-grit tempering use and is con-
temporaneous with feature 20 (p. 25).
Feature 17. Like feature 16, this ovoid refuse pit, located at
N. 2040, E. 1460, was not associated with any other feature or
burial. The ash and charcoal debris contained sherds and animal
bones. The predominance of sand-tempered ware is notable
here, and the probability is that the pit was filled toward the end
of the sand temper period and before the introduction of cord-
marking. A record of types by depth in four levels to 2.4 feet
is shown on page 25. Identification of species represented by the
bones is on page 49.
Feature 19 was a 56-foot circle of post molds visible at the
plow line, average diameter of molds 0.77 foot, average depth
2.06 feet (maximum 4.6 feet, minimum 0.5 foot). This circular
pattern is virtually a duplicate of feature 14 except that no fire
pits nor basins were observed. The entrance, not definitely indi-
cated, could have been to the northwest or southeast. No draft-
baffle screening, indicated by post molds inside possible doorways,
is apparent. The mold contents similarly were predominantly
sand-tempered sherds with a small number of Furrs Cordmarked
and Tishomingo Plain. The Tishomingo Cordmarked occurs
only in the first foot. Only three limestone sherds were found
in the molds and these in the two upper levels.
Feature 20. The identity of a circular pattern of post molds
here is uncertain. If the indication of a pattern is valid, the
pattern is incomplete due to gully erosion and the disturbance
by tree roots. The chief significance here is the fact that sherds
constituting a third of a Marksville Stamped, Rim Incised, Vari-
ant, pot were located in the southeast sector under 1.5 feet
of soil wash and in the top of a probable post mold. The pot
could have been an accidental intrusion. It is also interesting
to note that in uncovering this pattern 27 sherds were recorded,
all of which were sand-tempered, indicating that this area was
used mainly by makers of sand-tempered pottery.
Feature 21. The largest of the Bynum post mold patterns
was irregular, slightly oval, and had a mean diameter of 78 feet.
An erosional gully which had cut a segment of the northwest
portion, and a stand of trees on the entire pattern, made identifica-
tion of the pattern time consuming and difficult. Since most of
the molds were shallow, it was not thought worth while to ex-
cavate each mold. There can be little doubt that this feature is
closely related to features 14 and 19. Of two shallow oval pits
inside the circle one showed fire marking. The fact that the fire
pit and the shallow excavation of 0.3 to 0.6 foot below the surface
yielded 65 sand-tempered sherds and only 3 clay-grit out of 68
total shows the area to have been occupied chiefly by potters
using sand temper.
Feature 22. This feature is not included in the northwest-
southeast axis series represented by features 7, 24, 14, 19, and 21
because it lies further north along the Parkway center line from
feature 21 and differs in type. Feature 22 is a smaller circle,
15 feet in diameter, consisting of single molds 0.3 to 0.4 foot in
diameter and spaced less than a foot apart. The molds were a
uniform 0.5 foot in depth and contained only a single sherd of
Baldwin Plain. The interior of the structure had only one
center mold and a small shallow fire pit directly adjacent to the
mold.
The seven sherds associated with the interior of this feature
and not in the molds are not diagnostic and represent both clay-
grit and sand tempers.
Feature 23. This refuse pit extending from the plow line to
2.1 feet, containing village soil admixed with charcoal and ash,
was located at N. 2075, E. 1410, 2 feet west of burial 16. Large
quantities of animal bone refuse, gastropod shells, chert chips,
and sherds were recovered. It seems evident that this pit was
dug during the predominance of clay-grit pottery into and through
a soil zone of sand-tempered sherds. Heavy concentration of
Tishomingo Cordmarked in the lower levels indicates this. The
plow zone intermingled refuse shows Tishomingo Cordmarked
and Furrs Cordmarked. Although the sherds in the fill of
burial 16, nearby, are few, they tend to place this burial and
feature 23 in the same horizon. (See analysis, pp. 29 and 27.)
Feature 24. At a distance of 100 feet northwest of mound A
three circular or ovoid patterns of post molds encroaching closely
upon each other had superimposed directly upon them the burials
and possibly the pits of historic Chickasaws. (See fig. 4.)
The post mold patterns, designated A, B, and C, had the fol-
lowing dimensions:
Circle A, innermost pattern, ovoid, average diameter 57 feet,
12
°0 O 0°°° °°o ° o Q
O o
o
O
O V'."'
o O
o
oo
o O
o
o
°°°°
o „ »o l
FEATURE 19
FEATURE 14
O
F EATURE 22
SCAL E I N rttT
Vo • \
Q
x
£?
o o
o o
FEATURE 20
o o
o o
° o
° <.°0
. o <^°
FIGURE 5
FEATURE 2 1
13
average post mold depth from old plow line 1.33 feet (maximum
1.7 feet, minimum 0.3 foot), average mold diameter 0.65 foot.
Circle B, circular, 61-foot diameter, encroaching on circle C,
average post mold depth from old plow line 1.80 feet (maximum
4.1 feet, minimum 0.5 foot), average mold diameter 0.87 foot.
Circle C, 60-foot diameter, average post mold depth from plow
line 1.54 feet (maximum 2.1 feet, minimum 0.5 foot), average
mold diameter 0.66 foot.
Of several refuse pits within or encroaching upon these three
patterns it was impossible to be sure which were associated with
any of the three circles or with the superimposed historic Chicka-
saw occupation. However, it may be assumed in one case, that
of the large rectangular pit within pattern A, labeled feature 26,
that this shallow refuse basin was probably associated with his-
toric burial 25, the child accompanied by over 1,300 glass beads
and other grave goods.
None of the post molds of patterns A, B, or C intruded upon
the historic burials. On the other hand, post molds presumably
associated with these patterns were disturbed by the superimposi-
tion of burials 17, 21, 22, 25 and two pits, features 25 and 26.
As in the case of features 7, 14, and 19, the post molds of circles
A, B, and C were perpendicular and single, the entrances not
clearly indicated.
Analysis of the contents of the three circle patterns revealed
no significant difference between the circles in cultural evidence.
Taken together, the sherds show a predominance of sand-tem-
pered wares in the post molds, where only one Tishomingo plain
was recorded.
The historic burials superimposed upon the feature 24 area are
treated under burials 17, 21, 22, 25, and feature 26.
Feature 25. Situated between circles B and C of feature 24
(fig. 4), this eccentrically shaped pit, i-foot interior depth, top
even with plow line, offered no concrete evidence as to its asso-
ciation with either prehistoric or historic occupation in the post
mold pattern and grave area. No reason is evident for the irregu-
lar oudine similar to feature 25 in the southeast sector of circles B
and C of feature 24. The contents of feature 25 pit consisted
chiefly of small mammal and bird bones, tortoise plastrons, some
traces of burned reed, and sherds.
Feature 26, a rectangular pit, 10 by 7 feet, i-foot interior depth,
top cut by plow line, was located within the circle A pattern of
feature 24. Primarily a fire or refuse basin, this pit contained at
the northeast end a deposit of terrapin carapace and plastron frag-
ments, a deer jaw, and miscellaneous detritus including sherds
evenly divided between clay-grit and sand temper. At the oppo-
site end of the pit on the pit floor was deposited burial 25, the
historic Chickasaw child with quantities of trade beads, cup,
spoon, etc. Probably this pit was historic and contained refuse
from early and late village occupancy.
Feature 27, a subrectangular fire pit, measuring 5 by 3 feet and
with 0.06 foot interior depth below the intrusive plow line, was
located at N. 2075, E. 1686, unassociated with any other features
or burials. This feature had two interesting aspects, a series of
parallel burned logs partly intact and a paucity of artifact ma-
terial, totaling nine sherds all sand-tempered. It is probable that
this pit is representative of the early occupancy of the village
since sherd analysis places it in the sand-tempered, fabric-marked
horizon. (See analysis, p. 28.)
Feature 28. Located at N. 2041, E. 1495, this feature was a
small round refuse pit, diameter 2 feet, depth 2 feet, containing
only sherds, several from a single pot and a few chert chips. The
sherds are exclusively sand-tempered, plain or fabric-marked;
hence, the pit is associated with the early occupation of the site.
(See analysis, p. 28.) No other features or burials were asso-
ciated.
Feature 29. This irregular 10- by 4-foot oblong refuse pit at
N. 2180, E. 1605, graduated in depth from 4.7 feet below the
plow line at the west end to 0.5 foot below plow line at the east
end. The shape of this pit suggests the deep molds of mound B,
feature 8 pit bottom.
Although the pit could not be associated with a post mold pat-
tern, it is possible that a single large post was set up in the deep
excavation at the west end of the pit. No bark impression traces
were noted, however, and the general content of the pit suggested
general village soil fill with a few bits of charcoal and sherd refuse
intermingled. Of the sherds the predominant type is Baldwin
Plain, with Furrs Cordmarked second. The topmost level shows
Tishomingo Plain and Tishomingo Cordmarked. Probably the
pit was constructed and used during the Furrs Cordmarked pe-
riod, possibly extending into the clay-grit Tishomingo period.
Feature 30 was a 5- by 3-foot refuse pit located at N. 2155,
E. 1547, 0.9 foot deep below plow line, with no suggested stratig-
raphy. The contents were mainly sherds, both Furrs and Tisho-
mingo Cordmarked, including a small portion of a single pot.
Feature 33. While not directly connected with mound B, this
circular 7 foot diameter refuse pit lay only 10 feet southwest of
the mound periphery from the present sod line to 1.2 feet below.
Many sherds were found in the pit fill, the predominant types
being sand-tempered Baldwin Plain and Fabric Impressed. Tisho-
mingo Plain is in the minority with Houlka Gray.
The presence of lumps of pottery clay may indicate pot firing
was done here, although the pit sides were not fire-marked.
Feature 37. This pit, 25 feet northwest of mound A, was 1 1
by 6 feet, 3.5 feet interior depth below sod line, with vertical sides
and flat bottom. No artifacts other than a few shreds were noted
in the fill, which was mainly village soil with bits of charcoal
intermingled.
Burials. Burial 8 was located at N. 2158, E. 1556, in an area of
scattered post molds, lying directly in the plow line and destroyed
except for a fragment of the skull from which the vault was miss-
ing. The fragments indicate an adult. Although a pit is not
defined, it may be assumed that the burial once occupied an oval
pit typical of the village site and was probably flexed.
Burial ii, situated at N. 2064, E. 1431, was one of a loose
cluster including five other burials, Nos. 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16,
all located east of feature 14 and north of feature 19 post mold
circles and characterized by oval pits, flexed position with heads
to the east with the exception of No. 16. Burial 1 1 was subadult,
female, flexed, on left side, disturbed by the plow in a shallow
pit. The right half of the cranial vault had been sheared away.
u
No inclusive grave goods were noted. All remaining bones were
badly decayed.
Burials 12, 13, and 14. All of these burials were associated in
proximity and in almost identical aspects. Each was tightly flexed
in a shallow oval pit disrupted by the plow line; the bones of each,
fragmentary and greatly decayed, were apparently adult and
small, head to the east. No artifacts were associated with the
burials.
Burial 15, at N. 2049, E. 1426, like its neighbors described
above, was extremely fragmentary and decayed, only enough of
the outline being preserved to indicate a small individual tightly
flexed in an oval pit, with head to the east. The tooth caps, scat-
tered by the plow, were recognized as milk teeth.
Burial 16 was a flexed, young adult male in an oval pit. The
body lay on its right side but with head to the northwest, con-
trary to the evident custom of head to east. The pit, at N. 2075,
E. 14 17, lay only 2 feet east of feature 23. This burial was less
disturbed by the plow than the preceding five and was removed
en bloc in a cast. No inclusive grave goods were noted. Sherds,
probably accidentally included, indicated this burial was of the
clay-grit period.
Burial 17 was an historic Chickasaw child burial instrusive
upon the top 0.5 foot of circle C post molds of feature 24, 1 foot
below the surface. Although the grave was not completely observ-
able, indications were that it had been rectangular. The head
lay toward the east. The bone fragments were extremely decom-
posed. Numerous trade beads lay in the head and chest area in
association with a ferrous metal cup and a silver spoon. Flakes
of bright red paint were located in the facial area.
Arthur Woodward, curator, Los Angeles County Museum, has
made the following comments on this burial.
This would seem to be sometime in the i82o's-i83o's, possibly middle
1830's, judging by the spoon and the beads. Exact date is impossible. The
spoon doesn't correspond to any known type because of the peculiar fluting
or ridging on the handle. The bowl is typically nineteenth century, however.
The beads are of the common varieties of the period ranging on into the
1860's for some of them. The small, dark red faceted bead is the one which
I believe was sold by the traders during the first three decades at least as
"mock garnet." The other faceted beads are of the cut type of the first half
of the nineteenth century. At an earlier period, early eighteenth and seven-
teenth centuries, the faceted beads were molded, and later, in the early
twentieth they were machine molded or pressed.
Burial 18. This was the most spectacular of the historic
Chickasaw burials (pi. 12, fig. 2), a middle-aged male buried
lightly flexed on the right side, head east, in a 4 by 2-foot rec-
tangular grave immediately below the old plow line at N. 2213,
E. 1 153, the west border of the site. Burial 19 lay 7 feet to the
north. The skeleton was normal and incomplete only in that
the right hand was missing from the wrist down.
Undoubtedly this individual was a man of prominence. He
was adorned with a crown of silver alloy on his head, the salts of
which had preserved bits of cloth beneath the metal at the back
of the head (pi. 6, fig. 2). To the right of the head 0.3 foot
away lay a ferrous metal tomahawk pipe (pi. 14, fig. 16). A
sawed-oflf rifle barrel lay along the left forearm, and the lock
mechanism and some knife parts (pi. 14, figs. 11, 13, and 14)
lay along the right forearm. Earrings and pendants attached lay
at the sides of the head (pi. 14, figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5). A shell gorget
showing no design lay on the neck at the chin and was partly
overlaid by a "tincup" of conventional thin sheet iron (pi. 6,
figs. 1 and 4). A few beads and a brooch (pi. 6, fig. 7; pi. 14,
fig. 7) lay on the neck. Scattered in the thoracic area were a flint
for the rifle, a fragment of an iron key, an unfired lead ball,
a flattened lead ball, a small thin piece of copper, parts of a three-
sided file or rasp, and a "medicine bundle" consisting of a cluster
of one small ground sliver of soapstone, one smooth slate honing
stone, one small undefinable iron fragment, and one small steel
spring.
No definite pattern was observable in the post molds scattered
about the grave nor did the grave seem to intrude on the molds.
The comments of Arthur Woodward follow:
The silver crown was a common head ornament used by the southern
Indians during the i82o's-i83o's. The shell gorget is probably of conch
shell from the Bahamas and was probably made at Pascack, N. J., in the
Campbell Bros, wampum factory . . . The silver "buckle" is in reality
a silver double heart (crowned) brooch. This is a northern form and is
more commonly found among the Iroquois and the Delaware although at
this period, i82o's-i83o's, it seems to have reached south occasionally and
even into the Osage country. It is sometimes termed the Luckenbooth
brooch. It is an Old World symbol and represents the Fifth Wound of Christ.
This particular brooch has been broken and then rather crudely mended.
There may have been a silversmith's mark on the upper portion which was
broken off. Robert Cruickshank of Montreal made a great number of these
brooches (1774-1808).
The portion of a "key" or "corkscrew" is in all likeliness part of the
screw of a cock of a flintlock pistol which may well have been of French or
Spanish origin, late eighteenth or nineteenth centuries.
The black gunflint came from the Brandon quarries in England. It was
used in a common trade musket . . .
The tomahawk pipe . . . fits into the period with the other items.
Burial 19, a young female adult, lay 1.6 feet below the plow
line in a rectangular grave at N. 2222, E. 1158, flanked by burial
18, 7 feet to the south, and burial 20, 2 feet to the north. The
position of the body was unique at Bynum, having been placed
on the back, lightly flexed in a rectangular 3.5- by 1.7-foot area,
with the knees drawn up to where they touched the plow line.
The head was toward the east.
The only artifact association was a small strand of glass trade
beads around the neck, stated by Woodward to be of a type com-
mon for the period 1820-40.
Burial 20, the northernmost burial in the series of burials 18,
19, and 20, lay at N. 2225, E. 1158, pardy exposed to the plow
line and poorly preserved, head to east. The total depth of the
existing rectangular 3.7- by 1.9-foot grave was only 0.5 foot below
the plow line. As typed by Dr. Newman, this was the burial
of a middle-aged female. Flexing was light, with the body lying
on the right side. A silver spoon and iron cup were located in
the upper chest area and a small strand of glass beads lay at the
neck in a manner similar to burial 19 beads. No other artifacts
were associated.
Burial 21 was a historic Chickasaw grave at N. 1858, E. 1585,
intrusive on circle C of feature 24 post molds, rectangular, 4.5 by
3 feet, lightly flexed, a middle-aged adult, probably female, head
15
cast, extending through the plow line only o.i foot and badly dis-
turbed. The grave was slightly intrusive on the tops of circle C
post molds of feature 24. No post molds intruded on the grave.
Glass beads in great numbers lay in the presumed chest area with
two copper bells and an iron nail.
Woodward states:
Beads of this burial seem a trifle earlier, say in the late eighteenth century.
The bronze bells might also tally with this period, although these bells are
found all during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
Burial 22, located at N. 1845, E. 1592, was an historic Chick-
asaw burial in a rectangular 3.4- by 1.8-foot grave only 0.1 foot
below the intrusive plow line, but less disturbed than burial 21 due
to extreme flattening. The grave intruded upon some circle A
post molds of feature 24. The skull, however, was badly dam-
aged. The bones possibly represented a male adult lying lightly
flexed on the right side, head east (pi. 12, fig. 1).
Artifacts associated with the burial were undamaged and com-
prised a silver crescent on the chest (pi. 14, fig. 19), cloth traces
intact beneath the crescent, glass beads about the neck, and copper
earrings, described by Woodward as follows:
The silver gorget is not an official issue; hence it was in all likeliness ob-
tained as a trade item, or possibly as an annuity gift. It has no decoration on
it that smacks of the work of Cruickshank but, again, no mark; hence I
cannot say definitely. The period is around the 1820's.
Burial 23. A superficial oval pit burial at N. 2091, E. 1703,
unassociated with any feature in the village site, the flexed skeleton
lay from the plow line to 0.4 foot below with the left side of the
cranial vault destroyed by the plow. The bones indicate a male
adult, lying with head to the northeast. Inclusions of fresh-water
modern pelecypod and gastropod shells show no use as ornaments
or evidence that they were intentionally placed in the grave (pi.
12, fig. 4).
Burials 24 and 26. These two burials lay in a refuse pit 5 feet
in diameter and extending from the plow line to 0.6 foot below at
N. 2125, E. 1702. Burial 24 was a tightly flexed flesh or possibly a
bundle burial lying on the right side disturbed by the plow and
distorted possibly by disturbance in aboriginal days. All long
bones were broken repeatedly and portions were crushed, possibly
by the weight of farm machinery. The skull vault was cut in half
by the plow but the tooth caps indicated an adult.
No evidence suggested deliberate inclusion of shells as grave
goods, although clusters of gastropod fresh-water shells were ob-
served on both burials as well as in the rest of the refuse fill. . Some
pelecypod shells were also included. Only one was worked, al-
though most of the gastropod shells were broken at the top of the
whorl so that they could have been strung. The bead, the only
shell ornament recovered from the prehistoric horizon, is of the
species Pluerocera oborata and was brought into the Bynum area
from Kentucky, Tennessee, or northern Alabama.
Burial 26 was a child in the same refuse pit lying tightly flexed
in an almost upright position with the vault sheared in half by
the plow at the pit rim. This body was likewise badly broken
and could either have been disturbed in aboriginal days or placed
as a bundle burial, or both. These burials were late according to
sherd analysis (p. 29).
Burial 25 was superimposed upon the common center of the
three post mold patterns of feature 24 at N. 1836, E. 1585. It was
a Chickasaw child burial in the southeast end of the shallow rec-
tangular basin of feature 26 which intruded upon several post
molds.
Although the skeletal portions of burial 25 were decayed beyond
recovery, the tooth caps identifying the child and the wealth of
artifacts adorning the body were intact. The position of the head
was to the southeast. A 22-foot strand consisting of 1,300 glass
beads lay on the chest with a china cup and pewter spoon at the
chin. Five copper bells, a snuffbox, and two copper earrings and
a lead button, marked "A. Matthews," made up the grave inclu-
sions certain to have been deliberate. A flaked arrow point, a lead
ball, and some fresh-water shells may have been in the fill of
feature 26, lying over the burial.
Woodward comments on the historic grave goods:
The lead button by A. Matthews is probably English manufacture around
the 1820's or 1830's . . . The small porcelain bowl is also of the 1830's.
It is probably of English manfacture.
The beads are lumped with the other beads of the Chickasaw
burials at Bynum as being common types for the 1820's through
i83o's.
Burial 27 was an adult in an oval pit at N. 2204, E. 1590, sex
indeterminate, tighdy flexed, on the right side, and unaccompanied
by grave goods. The burial, being 1.0 foot below the plow line,
was undisturbed and in fair condition. In the pit fill were noted
sherds of Baldwin plain, Furrs, and Tishomingo cordmarked,
with the last-named type dominant.
Burials 28 and 29 were two cremations lying 8 feet from each
other and between 25 and 30 feet northwest of the periphery of
mound B at N. 1842, E. 1687. Whether or not these cremations
should be associated with the village site or with the cremations
of mound B, feature 8 pit, which appear identical in type, is un-
certain. Both cremations lay close to the present sod line and were
discovered in scraping operations with slips to gather fill for
reconstructing mound B. Burial 28 was 0.4 foot below the pres-
ent sod line and burial 29 was 0.2 foot below. Neither had been
disturbed, showed evidence of inclusion in a fire pit or burned
area, or yielded traces of artifacts.
In the absence of conclusive evidence, it is useless to suggest
these cremations might have been laid down at the time feature
8 of mound B was being furnished as a tomb, but possibility of
a connection exists, particularly in the absence of any human
cremation evidence in the remainder of the considerable village
area tested.
16
Ceramic Analysis
The Bynum excavation yielded a total of 13,729 sherds. Anal-
ysis of this material showed that the vast majority was either plain,
fabric-impressed, or cordmarked. A small number of sherds
(listed under minority wares below) are indicative of trade with
other areas. Paste, temper, and composition of the majority sherds
are similar to material recovered by Dr. Jesse D. Jennings in his
Lee County excavations. With one exception (Houlka Gray)
his types and these at Bynum as applied to the majority wares,
are the same, and his type descriptions have been used as a
guide in typing and describing the pottery from the Bynum
excavations (Jennings, 1941, pp. 199-201). Variations in types
from Jennings' nearby Lee County material were not sufficient
to warrant setting up new types for the Bynum material. Minor
differences between the Bynum sherds and Jennings' material in
composition and form are mentioned under the discussion of
each type.
The following tabulation contains the types, totals, and corres-
ponding percentages for all the pottery of Bynum. Break-down
figures for each feature and mound are given in the text. Not
one single complete pottery vessel was recovered from the excava-
tions. Several groups of sherds, however, when restored, made
large enough portions of whole vessels so that the original could
be easily surmised. Except for these few reconstructions, vessel
forms are postulated on the basis of rim sherds.
Total number sherds and percentages, Bynum site
Types
Baldwin Plain
Saltillo Fabric Impressed
Furrs Cordmarked
Tishomingo Cordmarked
Tishomingo Plain
Houlka Gray
Marksvillc Stamped
Marksvillc Incised
Limestone Tempered
Single Cord Impressed .
Alexander Incised
Miscellaneous
Total
13, 729
Number
Percent-
ages
5,789
42.17
3,509
25.56
1,191
8.67
1,446
10.53
1,319
9.61
383
2.79
25
.18
1
.01
17
.12
11
.08
8
.06
30
.22
100.00
TYPE DESCRIPTIONS
Baldwin Plain, the type with the greatest percentage of occur-
rence (42.17 percent) is a sand-tempered, gritty, friable ware,
ranging in color from gray through dull browns into tans and
dark reds. Surface finish is generally smoothed, though many
sherds, because of deterioration in the ground, are now rough
surfaced. Occasional pieces have thick crude sand particles, 1 to
2 millimeters in diameter, and in most of the sherds the tem-
pering material is readily prominent to the naked eye. A few
sherds which are evenly tempered with a fine-grained sand are
compact, well-fired, and burnished, but the majority are gritty
and friable. Burned clay pellets in the paste are completely
lacking.
Vessel shapes as indicated by rim sherds are more numerous
in Baldwin Plain than in the other types from Bynum. A deep
bowl with an everted rim that meets the vessel wall at right angles
is fairly common, especially from the village area (table 2, "Fre-
quency and occurrence of right angle everted rims, Baldwin
Plain"). Plate 1, figures 1-13, inclusive, 20, 23, 25, and 31,
show examples of this type rim and rim cross sections. A deep
narrow-mouthed bowl with generally thin lip and inverted rim
is also common (pi. 1, figs. 14, 15, 17, 18, 26, 32, and table 3).
This narrow-mouthed form is also common from the large cir-
cular post mold patterns of the village area.
A third vessel shape is that of a bowl in which the sides curve
upward to the rim and form a straight edge (pi. 2, figs. 6, 7, 8,
9, 15, 22, 23, and table 4). One rim form shows an incurved
bowl of shallow depth (pi. 2, fig. 21). A fourth common variety
of bowl is a form in which the neck may be constricted slightly
but more often is open with the rim slightly everted and flaring,
usually about 45 to the vessel wall (pi. 2, figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10,
11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and pi. 1, figs. 22, 27, 28, 30, and
table 5). One bowl fragment with slightly flaring rim shows
the lip was gently crennelated (pi. 2 fig. 24).
No handles, lugs, or appendages are noted for the material
of this type (Baldwin Plain) from the Bynum site, but eight
sherds show marked distinction from the above forms. Four
rim sherds show that an extra strip of clay was added to the rim
and extends down the outside of the vessel from the lip for a
distance of one-half to two-thirds of an inch (pi. 1, figs. 29, 30,
and table 6). One rim piece has a depression on the interior near
the lip about the size of a thumb which causes the exterior to
bulge correspondingly. The surface of the bulge is broken in
such a way as to suggest that originally an appendage may have
17
been attached at this point (pi. i, fig. 16). The sixth piece is a
curved, rounded sherd that, if originally appended at right angles
to a vessel, could have served as a lip or flat handle (pi. i, fig. 19).
Two slighdy everted rims which show punctations on the in-
terior also have a single cord impression just below the rim on
the exterior. One of these sherds (pi. 1, fig. 28) has a row of
punctations both on the interior and the exterior. On the exterior
the punctations have an impression of a single strand of twisted
cord just below the punctations running parallel to the lip of the
sherd. Below this first cord impression and at a slight oblique to
it is a second and below that a trace of a third. The other sherd
(pi. i, fig. 27) has a single-cord impression just below the rim
(about one-quarter inch) below which are faint oblique rows of
punctations. This latter sherd came from feature 19, the former
was from the plow zone of the village area.
Jennings notes that occasionally lines of punctations occur
around the exterior of the rim in the Baldwin plain sherds (1941,
p. 200). The material from Bynum is similar in this respect also.
Twenty-five rim sherds show punctations (pi. 1, figs. 21, 23, 25,
26, 27, 28, and pi. 2, figs. 13, 17, 20, also table 7). The majority
of these impressions have been made with a single cord-wrapped
stick, and two were made with a small hollow reed (pi. 1, fig. 26).
The Bynum material differs from Jennings' Lee County material
in that the Bynum sherds show the majority of the punctations on
the interior surfaces, especially in those sherds of everted rim
bowls (pi. 1, figs. 21, 23, and 25), though some flaring rim jugs
have punctations only on the inside (pi. 2, figs. 13, 17, and 20).
On sherds of the right angle everted rim bowls the punctations
are on the upper surface of the everted rim, usually close to the
lip (pi. 1, fig. 21). One unusual sherd has a line of punctations
close to junction edge of the vessel wall and the rim on the upper
surface of the everted rim, and a second row of similar punctations
is found on the interior of the vessel wall just below the same
junction (pi. 1, fig. 23). One right angle everted rim sherd has
a row of simple incisions on the edge of the rim and wall juncture
on the interior (pi. 1, fig. 25).
As used by Jennings, this type — Baldwin Plain — was the com-
panion type to his decorated ware, Furrs Cordmarked, another
sand-tempered type. He had no companion type for his Saltillo
Fabric. In the classification of the material from Bynum many
sherds bearing a great similarity to Saltillo Fabric but lacking the
decoration are also classified as Baldwin Plain. Thus at Bynum
the type Baldwin Plain serves a double duty, that of being the
plain counterpart to both Furrs Cordmarked and Saltillo Fabric.
Both these latter types are sand-tempered and quite similar to each
other in paste, texture, and color, so that undecorated portions of
these vessels might be indistinguishable. Those sherds of Bald-
win Plain which bear the greatest similarities to Saltillo Fabric are
found in the same areas with Saltillo Fabric and, similarly, those
which bear closer relations to Furrs Cordmarked were recovered
in areas also yielding Furrs Cordmarked material. That still
leaves a considerable group of sand-tempered sherds classified as
Baldwin Plain. For that reason, all plain sand-tempered sherds
from Bynum are considered as Baldwin Plain.
Saltillo Fabric Impressed (pi. 8, figs. 1-8, inclusive), the second
most frequent pottery type from Bynum, like the Baldwin Plain,
is a sand-tempered ware. Jennings found occasional charcoal
fragments and rare clay pellets in his Saltillo Fabric, but the sherds
from Bynum are all pure sand temper (1941, p. 201). Texture is
fine, compact, and undefined, very hard and gritty to the touch.
It is possible to rub off grains of sand with the fingertips. The
predominant color is a dark red or reddish brown of a dull hue.
Interiors are smoothed, and often the smoothing striations still
show, especially near the rim.
Exterior decoration was made by imprinting a plain plaited or
plain twined textile or basket design into the soft clay before fir-
ing. The impressions may be either parallel to, perpendicular to,
or diagonal to the rim. Sometimes, after the impression was made,
the surface was again smoothed over, so that the fabric marks are
almost obliterated (pi. 8, fig. 8). In other cases use and general
deterioration in the ground cause the impressions today to be
blotched or faint.
Vessel forms are simple, the commonest being a deep jar with
slightly constricted neck and flaring everted rim (pi. 3, figs. 1-6,
inclusive, and table 8). A second type shown by rim sherds is an
open bowl form with either straight or slightly flaring rim (pi.
3, figs. 8-15, inclusive, table 9). Two rim sherds indicate a jug
form with straight collar (pi. 3, fig. 16). Seven rim sherds were
of a miscellaneous type (table 10). Five of these show the addi-
tion of an extra layer of clay, extending from the lip one-half to
two-thirds of an inch down the outside of the vessel. In three
cases the textile impression extends up under this extra rim fold,
showing that the strip of clay was added after the original decora-
tion on the body of the vessel was accomplished (pi. 3, figs. 19 and
20). Then this extra layer was likewise fabric-impressed. One
coarse sand-tempered sherd from the old sod beneath mound D
shows a crude, poorly executed right angle everted rim (pi. 3, fig.
17). Except for this rather abortive example, the right angle
everted rim so common in Baldwin Plain is completely lacking
among sherds decorated with the textile or basket impression.
One sherd with a faint basket impression shows an unusual rim
shape (pi. 3, fig. 18) in that a 2-inch portion of the rim is raised
a half-inch higher and is more flaring than the rest of the rim.
No handle, lugs, or base supports are noted.
Saltillo Fabric Impressed sherds from Bynum, while called
"fabric impressed" following Jennings' report of 1941, actually
show an imprint that is much more likely to be the imprint of
a basket than a true textile. A few sherds (pi. 8, figs. 1 and 2)
show a thin woof applied to a warp that closely approximates the
spacing in the coarser specimens. The vast majority of the sherds,
however, show an imprint which is thick and rounded and was
made by a matting of twined vegetal fibers rather than by a cloth
or fabric of twined string.
Furrs cordmarked (pi. 3, figs. 21-28, inclusive; pi. 8, figs.
9-12, inclusive; and pi. 9, figs. 1-4, inclusive), like the two pre-
vious types, is also a sand-tempered ware. The tempering mate-
rial is fine to very fine with frequent mica flecks readily visible.
Texture is fine, homogeneous, with the temper evenly distributed,
and like the other sand-tempered wares it has a gritty sandy feel
and is friable to the touch. Interior colors are black, gray, and
18
brown, grading into reddish browns. Exterior colors range from
light gray through tan, red-brown into dull browns. The inte-
riors are smoothed and the exteriors were decorated with a cord
impression made by paddling the surface with an instrument
wrapped in twined string. Most string widths are i to 2 milli-
meters though some impressions of smaller cord do occur.
Usually, cord impressions start at the lip of the rim and extend
either diagonally or at right angles to the rim over most of the
vessel surface. One sherd, however, has cord impressions placed
parallel to the rim (pi. 3, fig. 23, and pi. 9, fig. 1). A few pieces
(pi. 8, fig. 10) have a smoothed band for approximately one-half
inch just below the lip before the cordmarking begins. Many
pieces appear to have had their surface smoothed over again after
the paddling had been applied, leaving a faint trace of the cord-
marking (pi. 9, fig. 4).
The most common form of vessel is the deep globular bowl
with thin, slightly incurving rim (pi. 3, figs. 24, 25, 29, and
table 11). There are also frequent examples of a slightly everted
rim (pi. 3, figs. 21, 22, 23, 27, and 28), this latter type being the
one that Jennings found to be the most common in Lee County
area. A few rims are neither incurving nor everted, but are
straight, slanting pieces from open bowls (pi. 3, fig. 26). No
handles, lugs, or feet were observed for either of these vessel
shapes. Two sherds, both with slightly everted rims, show that
additional strips of clay, in these cases very thin ones, were added
to the rim section after the completion of the vessel, possibly in
an effort to strengthen the rim (pi. 3, fig. 28). In both cases the
original surface had been cordmarked beneath the present extra
layer of clay, and then the extra strip was similarly paddled after
it had been added.
Furrs Cordmarked is distinguished from Tishomingo Cord-
marked (see below) by the fact that Furrs is predominantly a
sand-tempered ware. But occasionally clay pellets and grit are
noted. Since Tishomingo Cord is predominantly clay-grit tem-
pered, but does contain some sand, the dividing line between the
two is not sharp and distinct, and the type Furrs Cordmarked
blends into the type Tishomingo Cordmarked. In the Bynum
excavation it was not possible to find a stratigraphic or sequen-
tial difference between the Furrs and Tishomingo Cordmarked,
but the distinction was made in the laboratory on the basis of
Jennings' published description and actual sherd comparisons
between the Bynum material and that excavated by Jennings
(1941, pp. 199-200). In his Lee County excavations Jennings
found justification stratigraphically for the distinction between
Furrs and Tishomingo Cordmarked. In speaking of the excava-
tions at site MLe-62 and the occurrence of Tishomingo Cord-
marked, he says:
More than 5,400 of the specimens of this type (Tishomingo) came from
the village surface collections. From the old humus beneath the mound
and from the mound itself only occasional sherds of the Tishomingo types
were collected. The Furrs and Baldwin types predominated in the mound
fill and old humus collections, although they were also recovered from the
village. This distribution of types indicates two chronological brackets for
the material, with the Tishomingo types (which resemble the Dcasonville
types) being the later of the local cordmarked types (Jennings, 1941, pp.
198-199).
Tishomingo Cordmarked (pi. 9, figs. 5-13, inclusive), pre-
dominantly a clay-grit tempered ware, often contains clay pellets
and charcoal fragments and occasionally even fossil shells. The
paste is lumpy, irregular, and contorted. Paste color is usually
gray or dull brown. Interiors are smoothed, and exterior colors
are dull red, browns, and tans. The decoration of applied cord-
marking is always on the exterior of the vessel. It generally is
irregularly applied with paddles wrapped with strings averaging
a millimeter or less in width and more closely spaced together than
the Furrs Cordmarked.
The most common form of vessel seems to be a deep globular
bowl with thin rounded lip and slightly incurving rim (pi. 3,
figs. 30, 31, 33, and table 13). Usually the lip is thinner than
the vessel wall, though occasionally it has been left in a roughened
condition which makes it equally thick. A few sherds are noted
in which there is a slight eversion of the rim (pi. 3, figs. 34, 35,
and table 14), but the majority are of the incurving type. A few
are neither incurving nor everted but are straight-sided fragments
of open bowls (pi. 3, fig. 32). No appendages are noted for this
type. The best criteria for differentiating between Tishomingo
and Furrs Cordmarked are the type of temper and the size and
spacing of the cord marks. Furrs is sand-tempered with gen-
erally thicker and more widely spaced cording. (Compare fig. 2,
Furrs Cordmarked, with fig. 6, Tishomingo Cordmarked, on
pi. 9.) As noted by Jennings, Tishomingo Cordmarked is prob-
ably an outgrowth of and later development from the Furrs Cord-
marked (Jennings, 1941).
Tishomingo Plain is exactly the same as Tishomingo Cord-
marked except that both interior and exterior surfaces of Tisho-
mingo Plain are smoothed. Vessel forms (pi. 4, figs. 1-5, in-
clusive, and table 15) are predominantly the incurving bowl type
except that three sherds with clay temper showed up from the
village area which, if it were not for their clay-grit temper, would
be classed as good examples of right angle everted rim, Baldwin
Plain (pi. 4, figs. 3, 4, and 5). It may be that these three sherds
represent a carry-over of an earlier sand-tempered form into the
later clay-grit period. Because there are only three of them, they
have been classified under Tishomingo Plain. A few sherds show
a slightly flaring rim similar to that noted in Tishomingo Cord-
marked.
Houlka Gray (pi. 10, figs. 1-4, inclusive, and pi. 4, figs. 6-9,
inclusive), a sand-tempered ware, is one that so far as is known
is peculiar to the Bynum site. As its name implies, it is gray
in color, both exterior color and paste color. Large spicules of
sand are frequently observable and, like the other sand-tempered
wares, it is friable and gritty to the touch. Both surfaces are
often covered with minute holes or depressions as if some material
had weathered out from the original, or as if the sherd were com-
posed of tufa or volcanic ash. Reaction with hydrochloric acid is
negative.
It occurred largely in the village area, though some examples
were recovered from beneath log molds at the base of mound B
and in zones just above the undisturbed red clay below the mound.
Several samples were found deep in post molds of feature 14 and
19
a few in feature 19. But none whatsoever were recovered in or
around mound D.
Sherds of Houlka Gray are both plain and fabric-impressed.
Because of their small number (total 381) no type differentiation
is made between the plain and decorated sherds. Very probably
the plain sherds are merely the undecorated portions of the fabric-
impressed vessels. Vessel forms (table 16) are globular pots with
noticeably everted rims and thinned lips (pi. 4, figs. 7 and 8) and
vessels which had rims almost straight (pi. 4, figs. 6 and 9). No
lugs or handles or other appendages are known for this type, nor
were any complete vessels of Houlka Gray recovered in the exca-
vations. Comparison with surface survey collections from other
areas of northeastern Mississippi, even from sites near Bynum in
Chickasaw County, have so far failed to reveal material of a sim-
ilar nature from any place other than Bynum. It may be that
these sherds represent a purely local type of pottery made from a
distinctive gray clay obtainable near the Bynum site.
Of the decorated sherds, all are fabric-impressed (pi. 10, figs.
1, 2, and 3), none is cordmarked. This fact, plus the same sand
temper, would tend to place this type into the same category as
the early Saltillo Fabric, but, since it is not found associated with
any of the Baldwin Plain or Saltillo Fabric that was isolated by
mound D, presumably it is a later variant of these earlier types.
Its association with pit and sublevels of mound B would tend to
make it just a shade earlier than, or contemporaneous with, Furrs
Cordmarked.
Minority wares. A small number of sherds (total 92) were
recovered during the excavations which do not fall into any of
the above classifications and which in most cases at least are in-
dicative of outside or trade influences. Among these were 21
sherds which fitted together to form one-half bowl of the type
Marksville Stamped (pi. 2, fig. 25, and table 17). This vessel
depicts a bird motif, oudined by deep incisions, with portions of
the design element being enhanced by rocker stamping. It fits
the description of this type as given by Ford and Willey ( 1940,
p. 65), and is characteristic of the Marksville period at the Crooks
site in Louisiana. It was found in feature 20, a partial circular
post mold pattern in the village area. This circular post mold
pattern was filled to a depth of about 4 feet with sand, and the
partial vessel was found in the sand at a depth of 2 feet. Twenty-
seven other sherds were recovered from this feature, which with
one exception, a Tishomingo Plain sherd from the surface to 1-
foot level, were all sand-tempered types. Three were Furrs Cord-
marked, two were Saltillo Fabric Impressed, the rest were Bald-
win Plain except for the one Tishomingo Plain. If the deposition
of this fragment of a Marksville pot is the same as for the other
sherds, there is then a good likelihood of equation between the
Marskville period and the sand-tempered horizon at Bynum. It
is, of course, possible that the pot could be a hold-over from a still
earlier period or an inclusion into an earlier post mold pattern
from a later period. However, the finding of this Marskville
fragment with sand-tempered wares would seem to indicate their
contemporaneity at Bynum.
Four other sherds of Marksville Stamped were also recovered
from the excavations. Two came from the village area; one on
the surface, the other in the plow zone (pi. 4, fig. 20). One, a
small fragment of rim-incised vessel, came from the pit floor
(feature 8) of mound B. The fourth and largest fragment (pi. 4,
fig. 10) came from feature 16, fire pit, at a depth of 1.6 feet below
the plow line. All sherds from feature 16, except for one lime-
stone-tempered sherd, were sand-tempered.
One other sherd, with broad, curved incisions of the type Marks-
ville Incised, was found 0.3 foot below the mound surface in
mound B. This sherd shows no signs of rocker stamping as do the
other four. Evidence is scanty, but what little there is all points
to the fact that the sand-tempered horizon at Bynum and the
Marksville period of the Lower Valley can be equated in that the
Marksville influence seems to have penetrated to Bynum during
the later part of the sand-tempered period at Bynum. Marksville
influence seems to be absent from the old village layer beneath
the mounds, and absent from association with mound D, but is
associated with the building of mound B and with features in
the village area which are likewise probably equated with the
building periods of mounds A and B.
Seventeen sherds were limestone-tempered (table 18). Of these
17, 5 were decorated and 1 was a lug or handle. Three of the
decorated sherds can be identified as Wright Check Stamp
(Southeastern News Letter, vol. I, No. 1) (pi. 10, fig. 8); the
other two are very indistinct but bear a different design than a
plain-check stamp. They are both small sherds, but they may
represent portions of vessels originally decorated with Pickwick
Complicated Stamped (Southeastern News Letter, vol. I, No. 1)
(pi. 10, fig. 9). With one exception, all the limestone-tempered
sherds came from the village area. The one exception was a
Wright Check Stamped sherd which came from the northern
edge of mound B in the mound fill. It was at this point along
the edge of the mound that an irrigation ditch had been dug, some
years previous to our excavations, so that the association of this
sherd with the mound fill is very dubious. One other decorated
sherd of the possible Pickwick Complicated Stamped variety came
from a fire pit associated with feature 16. One plain sherd came
from a post mold in feature 14. Otherwise, the remaining lime-
stone sherds were all found within the plow zone of the village
area. Since the association of the one limestone sherd with mound
B is so dubious and since the remainder of the sherds came from
within or near the plow zone of the village area, it would indicate
that limestone-tempered sherds were introduced into Bynum from
elsewhere and that this introduction was subsequent to the sand-
tempered series at Bynum and either contemporaneous with or
just before the clay-grit series. It would likewise appear that the
limestone tempering was not known until after the erection of
mounds A, B, and D. In the Pickwick Basin, limestone-tempered
sherds are subsequent to the sand-tempered sherds (Haag, 1942,
p. 523), and a similar sequence is indicated in the Bynum mate-
rial. Griffin has pointed out, however, that it is possible to postu-
late (as he does) that —
During the cultural development in northern Alabama after the preceramic
cultures there was a period when a small proportion of fiber and sand-
tempered types were produced along with the dominant early limestone-
tempered wares (1945, p. T-li).
20
It is possible then that the limestone sherds found at Bynum
are part of the regular sand-tempered horizon and not indi-
cative of a later period after all. But, as none of the sherds tem-
pered with limestone were found in positive association with any
mound or premound features, it seems most likely that, at Bynum
anyhow, the limestone-tempered wares, if not post-sand temper,
are at least in the later phase of that period.
The paucity of limestone sherds at Bynum is partly accounted
for by the lack of limestone in this area to use as tempering mate-
rial. These 17 sherds most likely represent fragments of vessels
which had originally been actually imported into the site from
elsewhere (most likely the Pickwick Basin area).
A few (n) sand-tempered sherds are decorated with the im-
print of a single cord or strand of small twined string. Six are
rim pieces in which the single cord impression occurs near to
and parallel to the rim. Four pieces have the addition of a row
or rows of punctatons. In paste, color, and composition these
sherds are all perfectly good Baldwin Plain except for the added
cord impressions. One sherd, a right angle everted rim form,
in addition to the main cord impression parallel to the rim has
a series of smaller short cord impressions so arranged as to form
a triangular pattern (pi. 4, fig. 18, and pi. 10, fig. 11). Another
sherd combines a single cord impression with a small hollow reed
punctation above and below the line (pi. 10, fig. 10). Two others
are combinations of angular jab punctations with cord impres-
sions. With two exceptions, all these single cord-impressed sherds
came from features in the village area (table 19). The two excep-
tions came from the bottom of the fire pit (feature 10) in mound B.
Alexander Incised, a sand-tempered ware more prevalent in
the Pickwick Basin area, was represented at Bynum by eight small
sherds. Two are rim sherds with thin vertical incisions extending
from the lip over the rim and below which are incised lines
parallel to the rim (pi. 4, fig. n). Three other sherds are pieces
which are almost rims, but the lip portions are missing. They are
decorated with horizontal incisions similar to the first two. The
remaining three sherds are small samples which have broad in-
cised lines on them, one with a single line, the other two with
double lines (pi. 4, fig. 14). Paste, color, and composition of
these sherds match the description as given in Southeastern News
Letter, volume I, No. 1. The scarcity of sherds of Alexander
Incised would show that a few vessels of this type had been
actually imported into Bynum rather than that these were local
copies of a well-known pottery type.
Only one of these sherds was in any way associated with mound
D (table 20). It was found near the top of the mound on the
south side at a depth of 0.8 foot in the mound fill. It is possible
that this sherd was an accidental inclusion in the mound fill from
a time subsequent to the erection of the mound.
Two of the sherds of Alexander Incised were found in mound
B, feature 10, at the bottom of the fire pit, and one was found
in feature 33, just to the west of mound B. The remainder came
from the village area or from features 17 and 24. Both these
latter features are predominantly sand-tempered in their pottery.
It thus appears on the basis of the meager evidence of eight sherds
that influence in the nature of sand-tempered trade wares was
being received at Bynum from the northeast in the vicinity of
Pickwick Basin sometime during the mound erection period, a
period which, based on the sherds at Bynum, was a sand-tem-
pering period. Alexander Incised is chronologically later than
fiber-tempered wares and belongs to the sand-tempered series
which on the whole preceded limestone temper and clay-grit
temper (Haag, 1942). Finding it associated predominantly with
sand-tempered wares at Bynum, where fiber temper is unknown,
confirms its same chronological place in the Bynum sequence.
Miscellaneous sherds (pi. 4, figs. 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 21, and
pi. 10, figs. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16). Thirty remaining
sherds are unusual enough to warrant their separation from the
remainder of the Bynum ceramic material. Most are not easily
classifiable into any of the better known pottery types of the
Southeast. Of these 30 sherds, 10 are decorated with incising of
1 kind or another. One clay-tempered sherd with a bulbous
incurving rim has a series of squarish punctations on the outside
just below the rim, underneath which is a broad incised line run-
ning parallel to the rim (pi. 4, fig. 17, and pi. 10, fig. 15). A
second gray sand-tempered sherd has two medium incised lines
crossed by a third at right angles. The incisions have been some-
what smoothed over and obliterated subsequent to being incised
(pi. 4, fig. 12). A third reddish-brown sand-tempered sherd
(pi. 4, fig. 15) has two thin incised lines on either side of which
is a series of small angular jab punctations. This latter sherd
came from the fill of mound D, 2.2 feet above the old sod line.
Of the remaining sherds, one shows a small incised triangle with
interior punctations (pi. 4, fig. 16) and the remaining six small
sherds are all sand-tempered with incised decoration varying from
simple geometric incisions, curvilinear incisions, to punctations
and thin, fine incised lines, almost like engraving. The last and
tenth sherd of this group is one which shows thin brushed in-
cisions over all its surface (pi. 10, fig. 16).
Nine sherds of a dark-reddish hue tempered with fine sand
have a crisscrossed design incised on them. The incising is crude
and deep and not in a regular pattern (pi. 10, figs. 5-7, inclusive,
and pi. 4, fig. 13). Possibly the surface of the vessel had been
sun-dried before the design was applied. One of the sherds is a
rim piece, which on the outside has a small thin fillet of clay added
from the lip for a distance of three-eighths of an inch down the
side of the vessel (pi. 4, fig. 13, and pi. 10, fig. 5). It shows that
the original vessel shape had been that of a small open-mouthed
bowl with vertical rim. Six of the nine pieces were found to-
gether one-half foot from the surface in the fill of mound B. Two
other pieces were found at the west border of mound B, 0.6 foot
below the surface in the mound fill and the ninth piece came from
feature 11, mound B, 0.8 foot below the surface. All nine pieces
appear as though they came from the same vessel, though none
of them could be matched together. Because of their prevalence
in the upper portion of the mound fill in mound B close to the
surface, they could be late accidental inclusions in the fill. The
provenience of these sherds is not diagnostic as to their place in
the Bynum sequence.
21
Two unusual sherds were found at the bottom of the fire pit
in feature 10 of mound B, and a similar one from the ash layer
under the log molds of feature 8, mound B. These three sherds
all have the appearance of having been fire-heated to such an ex-
cessive degree that their components actually boiled and bubbled
(pi. 10, figs. 12, 13, and 14). All are light, porous, gray in color
and full of both large and minute holes. The sherds are mis-
shapen, distorted, and swollen. Particles of sand-tempering are
still visible in them. One is unmistakably a rim sherd, but its
outer surface is now swollen with a great "blister" (pi. 10, fig. 12).
Were it not for their swollen and bubbled appearance, one might
suspect that these three sherds had been carved from tufa, or vol-
canic ash. Since all were found in areas in which at one time
there had been fires, it is possible that something either in the fire
or inherent in the sherd itself made the heat of the fire rise to a
degree sufficient to cause some substance in the sherds to liquify
and subsequently to boil.
Three bone-tempered sherds were recovered, two from the
village area unassociated with feature or mound and the other
from feature 23. Bone tempering is more a Southern Plains'
Caddo pottery characteristic than a southeastern one, though Jen-
nings found some of his sherds of type Wilson Plain from Mle-62
were tempered with crushed bone (Jennings, 1941, p. 189). Wil-
son Plain is a pottery type that chronologically occurs later than
the sand-tempered., cordmarked, or clay-grit wares. It is more
comparable in time to the shell-tempered wares of the Middle
Mississippi phase. These three bone-tempered sherds are most
logically a very minor manifestation of a much later occupation
of the site than the mound-building period. No pottery was
found definitely associated with the historic occupation of the
Bynum site as represented by the burials with historic trade goods,
but these three bone-tempered sherds might possibly be either
of that period or of an earlier transient protohistoric period.
Two very hard-baked, fine-grained, sand-tempered sherds were
recovered from the village. Both have a marked white interior
and exterior surface, the whiteness extending down into the in-
terior paste for a discernible distance. The interior core is a gray-
black color. At first it appeared as if these sherds had been
painted white, but cross-section examination showed that the white
edging extended into the dark paste and was most likely caused
by firing.
One red-painted sherd was found on the west side of mound A
in the sod zone. The exterior is a dull dark red, the interior is
smoothed and smoothing marks still show. It is clay-grit tem-
pered. This was the only sherd with any form of paint or red
filming found at Bynum.
One sherd of unknown type, a curved piece of plain ware, was
evidently tempered with some material that has now weathered
out. The surfaces and interior core both show small shallow
holes. On the interior they appear as very thin lenses. Reaction
with acid was negative.
ANALYSIS
{Pottery found in association with mounds,
features, and burials)
The following section presents in tabular form the statistical
analysis of the pottery which was recovered from the Bynum ex-
cavation as that pottery relates to the various mounds, features,
and burials uncovered at the site. Pottery types are the same ones
as discussed in the foregoing section of this manuscript. At the
end of each tabular count is a statement regarding that particular
feature or mound which sums up the information given in the
analysis. Following this section is a third which attempts to bring
together the facts and suggestions brought out in the analysis and
which places the various pottery features of the Bynum site in
relation to each other, and Bynum pottery as a whole in relation
to other southeastern archeological sites.
Mound A
rype and number
Depth
Bald-
win
Plain
Fabric
Im-
pressed
Furrs
Cord-
marked
Tisho-
mingo
Cord-
marked
Tisho-
mingo
Plain
Miscel-
laneous
Surface to 1 .0 foot
Mound fill
62
14
68
19
2
8
13
8
25
9
1
10
14
4
1
1.0 foot above mound
floor to mound floor. . . .
4
1
On mound floor
Old sod
Sealed off" in post molds
(feature 7)
Total (263)
173
65.7
66
25.2
18
6.8
1
0.4
4
1.5
1
Percent
0.4
Mound A, like B, shows that as the mound was being erected cord-
marking was known. It seals off earlier pure sand-tempered village refuse,
and the mound fill gathered from earlier village refuse is only sand temper.
Overlaying surface of mound, though, has greatest percentage of cord-
marking. Here the majority of cordmaking is sand-tempered Furrs type.
It is thus possible that mound A falls between mound D and B in chronologi-
cal sequence.
Mound A — Feature 7
Baldwin Plain 8
Fabric Impressed 10
Total 18
These sherds are pure sand-temper horizon and sealed off by mound A,
thus effectively segregating a fabric sand-temper horizon from a later cord
sand horizon and cord clay-grit horizon.
22
Pit northwest of mound A
Pit 60 feet northwest of mound A
Type and number
Depth
Baldwin
Plain
Furrs Cord-
marked
Bottom of sod to 0.5 foot below (0-0.8 foot)
Total 2.
1
1
Shallow pit. Paucity of sherds undiagnostic. Possibly sand-temper
horizon at beginning of cordmarked period.
Depth
Type and number
Sod bottom to 0.5 foot below
J Fabric Impressed.
Pit of pure sand-temper fabric horizon but sherds too few to be diagnostic.
Mound B
Type anc
number
Depth
Marks-
ville
Incised
Marks-
ville
Stamped
Baldwin
Plain
Fabric
Impressed
Furrs
Cord-
marked
Tisho-
mingo
Cord-
marked
Tisho-
mingo
Plain
Houlka
Gray
Lime-
stone
Tem-
pered
Single
Cord-
marked
Alex-
ander
Incised
Miscel-
laneous
Below surface ■ — 1.0 foot
279
14
63
113
48
20
41
95
32
63
4
1
17
1
72
6
140
86
13
15
31
75
26
140
60
2
63
4
53
3
1
1
9
In fill 1.0 to 2.0 feet
In fill
1
1
0.1 foot above mound floor to
mound floor .
1
On/in mound floor. . .
1
1
On rim, central feature. . .
1
1
2
3
1
On/in log molds
2
11
3
1
Under log molds
2
1
Pit fill, feature 10
Fire pit, bottom feature 10
2
2
3
1
Old sod, under mound
2
2
Scaled off in post molds
Total (1,636)
1
0.1
1
0.1
791
48.3
608
37.2
69
4.2
69
4.2
59
3.6
20
1.2
1
0.1
2
0.1
2
0.1
13
Percent
0.8
Sealing off of pure sand-tempered Baldwin Plain and Saltillo Fabric Im-
pressed in the post molds and in the old sod shows these were precedent to
the mound erection. Cordmarked sherds under and in the log molds are
impossible to explain away. The people erecting the mound knew cord-
marked pottery and used it as seen by the cordmarked sherds in the log molds,
yet dirt for the mound fill came mainly from the earlier pure sand-tempered
village area for cordmarked sherds are lacking in the main mound fill.
The large amount of cordmarked ware in the first foot of the mound sur-
face shows that cordmarking was becoming more prevalent (from 2 to 32
percent) in the last phases of mound erection or else that after the mound
was completed this ware was lost and scattered over the mound surface.
South of mound B in pit
Depth
Type and number
Baldwin
Plain
Fabric
Impressed
0-0.5 foot
8
1
11
0.5-1.0 foot
3
Total (23). . .
9
39
14
Percent
61
Pit of pure sand-temper horizon. Absence of cordmarking, especially in
first one-half foot, may be accidental.
23
Mound D
Type and number
Provenience
Baldwin
Plain
Fabric
Impressed
Furrs Cord-
marked
Tishomingo
Cordmarked
Alexander
Incised
Miscel-
laneous
Total
25
0-0.5 foot
2
15
1
0.5-1.0 foot
6
1
Wash from mound
g
0-0.5 foot
2
1
2
1
2
0.5-1.0 foot
1.5-2.0 feet
Fill
168
New sod line to 1.0 foot down
20
30
66
95
7
20
23
17
1
Middle fill
1
Old sod, 1 .0 foot up
Old sod beneath mound
1
113
15
0-0.5 foot
3
3
2
0.5-1.0 foot
4
3
1.0-1.5 feet
68
On rim
58
1
1
1
1
7
0.6 foot below rim
1.3 feet below rim
2.1 feet below rim
Beneath old sod : 0.4 foot below top of old sod
1
Total
303
76.1
90
22.6
1
0.3
1
0.3
1
0.3
2
0.4
398
Percent
Of a total of 398 sherds from mound D, all but the following are either
sand-tempered Baldwin Plain or Fabric Impressed:
1 Furrs Cordmarked.
1 Tishomingo Cordmarked.
2 Miscellaneous Incised.
1 Alexander Incised.
Both the Furrs and Tishomingo Cordmarked were found in areas peripheral
to the actual mound during exploratory trenching, the Tishomingo Cord at
a depth of 0.4 foot from surface and the Furrs at 0.7 foot from surface.
The Alexander Incised came from the mound fill in the first foot below
the surface.
The two miscellaneous sherds are incised and/or punctated sherds, sand-
tempered, reddish brown in color. One came from the old sod at a depth
of 5.5 feet to 6.0 feet beneath mound surface. It is marked with two parallel
deeply scored, incised lines, 0.5 inch apart. The lines were made with a
sharp, pointed tool.
The second miscellaneous sherd, also sand-tempered, was encountered in
the middle fill of mound D. It is a punctated sherd with two closely parallel
incised lines on the middle (pi. 4, fig. 15). On either side of the incised
lines is a double row of angular jab punctations.
The Baldwin Plain and Fabric Impressed from mound D is outstandingly
thicker, sandier (larger grained sand) and more crumbly texture, than other
Baldwin Plain and Fabric Impressed. A common rim form is the flat,
everted rim which, while not unique for mound D, still is highly charac-
teristic of it (pi. 1, figs. 1— 13). The most common rim shape, however, is a
simple flaring rim (pi. 2, figs. 1-5).
Mound D ceramics are very homogeneous. Absence of cordmarking in
connection with mound proper is highly diagnostic. Total absence of lime-
stone temper (as opposed to mound B) is of interest. No Houlka Gray
recovered either. Ceramics are pure, homogeneous group with inclusion of
two miscellaneous incised sherds.
Mound F
Depth
0.2 foot below sod, 0.4 foot below surface
Top of charcoal below sod, 0.2 foot below surface. . .
0.9 foot in mound fill
1.4 feet in mound fill on top of burned clay
0.6 foot in mound fill
0.5 foot below top of undisturbed earth in post mold
Total (9)
Type and number
Baldwin
Plain
Fabric
Impressed
Mound F, on the appearance of a few sherds (total 9), seems to be
entirely of the sand-tempered horizon like mound D.
24
Feature 14
Type, number, and percentages
Depth (in post mold from
surface)
Baldwin Plain
Fabric
Impressed
Furrs Cordmarked
Tishomingo
Cordmarked
Tishomingo
Plain
Houlk
a Gray
Total
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
6-1.0 foot
188
120
10
2
37.2
43.0
35.7
40.0
214
80
14
2
44.7
28.6
50.0
40.0
9
3
1
1.8
1.0
3.5
14
2
2.9
.7
4
5
1
0.8
1.7
3.5
47
68
2
1
9.8
24.3
7.1
20.0
476
278
28
5
60.5
1.0-2.0 feet
35. 3
2 0-3 feet
3 6
3 0-4 feet
6
Total
320
40.7
310
39.3
13
1.7
16
2.0
10
1.3
118
15.0
787
Feature 16
Type and number
Depth
Bald-
win
Plain
Fabric
Im-
pressed
Houlka
Gray
Lime-
stone
Tem-
pered
Single
Cord-
marked
Marks-
villc
Stamped
1.6 feet below
plow line in fire
pit
1
Plow line to 3
feet below in
fire pit
66
40
8
1
1
Total (117). . .
Percent
66
56.5
40
34.3
8
6.8
1
0.8
1
0.8
1
0.8
Feature 14 is predominantly sand-tempered ware of the Baldwin Plain
and Satillo Fabric Impressed type. Small percentages of clay-grit wares
appear in the upper levels. Furrs (sand -tempered) Cordmarked appears one
level lower than Tishomingo Cordmarked. The absence of Limestone Tem-
pered and Single Cord Impressed is of interest in comparing this feature to
others. This lack could be accidental or it might indicate greater antiquity
for this feature. It is probably accidental in that clay-grit types do appear.
Like feature 19, possible this feature is early and the post molds gradually
filled in over a period of time as the logs rotted out.
Feature 16: There is no segregation by depth, but the sherds (with the
exception of one limestone) are all of sand-tempered period. This fire
pit is one made and used during times when sand temper was prevalent,
and it was subsequently abandoned and filed in with refuse of the same
period. The Marksville Stamped sherd shows also that this fire is just
prior to clay-grit tempering period and contemporaneous with feature 20.
Feature No. 17 was fire and refuse pit, hence mixture would be expected.
Predominance of sand temper is outstanding factor here. Three Tishomingo
sherds could be accidental inclusions from above. Best analysis is that large
amount of sand-tempered period refuse dumped here which included single
cord and that the Tishomingo Cordmarked was later inclusion from above.
Presence of limestone sherd in bottom layer indicative that this fire pit used
toward end of sand temper period but prior to introduction of cordmarking,
for no Furrs Cordmarked (a sand-tempered type) was present at all.
Village site — Feature 17
Depth
Baldwin
Plain
Fabric
Impressed
Tisho-
mingo
Cord-
marked
Tisho-
mingo
Plain
Houlka
Gray
Limestone
tempered
Single
Cord-
marked
Alexander
Incised
Surface, 0.6 foot . .
5
189
49
Level I, 0.6-1.4 feet
105
11
2
1
7
4
1
Level II, 1.4-1.9 feet
1
Level III, 1.9-2.4 feet
Total (375)
116
30.9
243
64.8
2
0.5
1
0.3
7
1.9
1
0.3
4
1.0
1
Percent
0.3
25
Feature 19
Type,
number, and percent
Depth (post mold)
Baldwin
Plain
Fabric
Impressed
Furrs Cord-
marked
Tishomingo
Cordmarked
Tishomingo
Plain
Houlka
Gray
Limestone
Tempered
Single
Cordmarked
Miscel-
laneous
Num-
ber
Per-
cent
Num-
ber
Per-
cent
Num-
ber
Per-
cent
Num-
ber
Per-
cent
Num-
ber
Per-
cent
Num-
ber
Per-
cent
Num-
ber
Per-
cent
Num-
ber
Per-
cent
Num-
ber
Per-
cent
6-1 .0 foot
427
165
22
2
42.7
39.4
38.0
18.1
502
235
25
7
50.2
56.2
43.1
63.6
3
2
2
0.3
.5
3.4
5
0.5
4
2
5
0.4
.5
8.6
54
13
4
5.4
3.1
6.9
2
2
0.2
.5
1
0.1
1
0.
1 0-2.0 feet
2 0-3 feet
3 0-4 feet ....
1
9.1
Total (1,486)
616
41.5
769
51.7
7
.5
5
.3
11
.7
71
4.8
4
.3
2
.1
1
Percent
Totals by depth:
0.6-1.0 foot— 999 sherds, 67.2 percent.
1.0-2.0 feet— 419 sherds, 28.2 percent.
2.0-3.0 feet— 58 sherds, 39 percent.
3.0-4.0 feet— 10 sherds, 0.7 percent.
Feature 19 is predominantly sand-tempered with a minority of Furrs
Cordmarked and Tishomingo Plain. The Tishomingo Cordmarked occurs
only in the uppermost level. The association of limestone temper with
upper two levels is interesting in view of its occurrence in lower levels with
other notable sand-temper features. (See mound B, features 16 and 17.)
A possible interpretation here is that these molds represent an early struc-
ture, possibly premound B and coequal with mound D or with the old
village debris beneath mounds B and D. The molds were gradually filled
in as the posts rotted out — thus some were filled in quicker than others and
caused a mixture of sherds by levels, accounting for Tishomingo Plain in
the third level.
Village site — Feature 20
Type and number
Depth
Baldwin
Plain
Fabric
Impressed
Furrs
Cord-
marked
Tisho-
mingo
Plain
Marks-
ville
Stamped
0-0.5 foot
15
1
3
2
2
0.5-1.0 foot
3
1
1.0-1.5 feet
1.5-2.0 feet
21
Total (48)
Percent
21
43.7
2
4.2
3
6.3
1
2.1
21
43.7
This feature is of interest because of its possible association with the frag-
ment of Marksville pot. The sherds from this feature are predominantly
sand-tempered — only one clay-grit. This latter could be an accidental in-
clusion. Stratification does not show anything. The presence of three Furrs
Cordmarked plus the small representation of Fabric (only two) would tend
to put this feature as just post-mound erection but prior to introduction of
clay-grit (if the one Tishomingo Plain is ignored).
Village site — Feature 21
Depth
0-0.5 foot
0.5-1.0 foot
0.5-1.5 feet
2.0-1-
Total (68)
Percent
Type and number
Baldwin
Plain
29
7
8
4
48
70.6
Fabric
Impressed
1
1
10
4
16
23.5
Tisho-
mingo
Plain
3
4.4
Houlka
Gray
1
1.5
This feature shows the predominance of sand temper in lower two levels
and the comparative scarcity of clay-grit in upper levels. Only 3 of the total
68 sherds are clay-grit. It would appear that the structure represented by
this circular post mold pattern had been erected and abandoned during sand-
tempering times. The molds were filled in with mosdy sand-tempered wares
except for a few clay-grit in upper levels.
Village site — Feature 22
Depth
0-0.5 foot
0-0.7 foot
0.3 foot below surface in post mold .
Total (7)
Type and number
Baldwin
Plain
Fabric
Impressed
Tisho-
mingo
Cord-
marked
Not very distinctive; could be either sand or clay-grit horizon.
26
Village site — Feature 23
Type and number
Depth
Baldwin
Plain
Fabric
Impressed
Furrs
Cord-
marked
Tisho-
mingo
Cord-
marked
Tisho-
mingo
Plain
Houlka
Gray
Lime-
stone
Single
Cord-
marked
Miscel-
laneous
Total
Surface to 0.9 feet
2
21
31
1
62
92
2
50
46
6
6-0 9 foot
50
49
30
33
1
2
2
216
6-12 feet
1
1
255
Total
99
20.8
63
13.2
54
11.3
155
32.5
98
20.6
3
0.6
2
0.4
1
0.2
1
0.2
477
This pit is most likely one which was dug by people using clay-grit pottery
into and through an area of sand-tempered sherds. Heavy concentration of
the Tishomingo Cordmarked would indicate this in both lower levels. Sur-
face shows merely Tishomingo Cordmarked and Furrs Cordmarked, but was,
of course, disturbed by plow.
Feature 24
Type, number, and percent
Depth
Baldwin
Plain
Furrs Cord-
marked
Tishomingo
Cordmarked
Tishomingo
Plain
Fabric
Impressed
Single Cord-
marked
Houlka Gray
Alexander
Incised
Miscellaneous
Num-
ber
Per-
cent
Num-
ber
Per-
cent
Num-
ber
Per-
cent
Num-
ber
Per-
cent
Num-
ber
Per-
cent
Num-
ber
Per-
cent
Num-
ber
Per-
cent
Num-
ber
Per-
cent
Num-
ber
Per-
cent
0-0.5 foot
42
45
8
11
7
31.5
51.7
36.3
100.0
33.3
16
3
3
12.0
3.5
13.3
25
11
18.8
13.0
13
4
1
9.7
4.7
4.5
34
19
10
25.5
22.3
45.5
1
2
1.1
2.3
1
1
1. 1
0.5-1.0 foot
1
1.1
1
1.1
1.1
Post mold . .
1.0-1.5 feet
Post mold
14
66.6
Total (273)
113
41.3
22
8.1
36
13.2
18
6.6
77
28.2
1
0.4
3
1.1
1
0.4
2
Percent
0.7
Total by depth:
0-0.5 foot — 132 sherds, 48.4 percent.
0.5-1.0 foot— 87 sherds, 31.9 percent
Post mold — 22 sherds, 8.1 percent.
1.0-1.5 feet — 11 sherds, 4.0 percent.
Post mold — 21 sherds, 7.6 percent.
The statistics show a trend toward greater predominance of sand-tempered
wares in lower levels — especially post molds, which, execpt for one Tisho-
mingo Plain, are pure sand temper. This feature then seems to have been
erected during the latter part of sand-tempering times and the post holes filled
in with debris gradually allowing for an overlay of clay-grit cordmarked ware.
891131 O— 51-
27
Feature 2.5
Type and nun
ber
Depth
Baldwin
Plain
Fabric
Im-
pressed
Furrs
Cord-
marked
Tisho-
mingo
Cord-
marked
Tisho-
mingo
Plain
0.3-13 feet below
plow line
Total (12).
4
1
3
3
1
Too few sherds to be really diagnostic, but the indications are this was
a late pit of the cordmarked times, or, even more likely, the pit was dug
through earlier refuse by historic Indians, thus turning up sherds of all
types.
Feature 26
Type and number
Depth
Baldwin
Plain
Fabric
Impressed
Tisho-
mingo
Cord-
marked
Tisho-
mingo
Plain
0.3 foot below plow line. . . .
Plow line to 0.4 foot
2
1
3
1
1
3
6
Bottom of plow line to 0.5
foot below
2
Total (19)
6
3
4
6
Sherds show that this feature was about evenly divided between clay-grit
horizon and sand-tempered horizon. Burial 25 in this pit was probably
intrusive into refuse of both earlier periods. Sherds not directly associated
with burial. This pit was dug into earlier pottery-bearing levels and mixed
the distribution. Thus, this pit and its burial (No. 25) are both later
chronologically than sand -tempered and clay-grit wares. The association of
trade goods with burial No. 25 would also indicate its relative recency.
Feature 27
Type and number
Depth
Baldwin
Plain
Fabric
Impressed
0.3 foot in fire pit
7
2
Total (9).
Feature 28
Depth
1.0 foot below plow line
Bottom of plow line to 0.5 foot below
Total (19)
Type and number
Baldwin
Plain
12
Fabric
Impressc
All these sherds are sand-tempered and hence place this pit in the sane
tempered fabric period.
Feature 29
Depth
0.5-1.0 foot.
1.0-1.5 feet.
0.5-1.5 feet.
1.5-2.0 feet.
4.0-4.5 feet.
Total (53).
Type and number
Baldwin
Plain
20
1
8
30
Furrs
Cord-
marked
IS
Tisho-
mingo
Cord-
marked
Tisho-
mingo
Plain
Predominant type is Baldwin Plain with Furrs Cordmarked second. Smal
overlay of Tishomingo Cordmarked. As Baldwin Plain is counterpart o
Furrs Cordmarked, inference is that this feature made and used during Furr:
Cordmarked period, possibly extending into Tishomingo times.
Village site — Feature 30
Depth
0.6-0.9 foot.
0.6-1.1 feet.
Total (78).
Type and number
Baldwin
Plain
14
14
Fabric
Impressed
Furrs
Cord-
marked
9
40
49
Tisho-
mingo
Cord-
marked
i
Shows only sand-tempered wares for this feature; depth in pit not great
but, since it is fire pit, this is indication (lacking other evidence) for assign-
ing this feature to sand-tempered fabric horizon.
There was slight implication here of reverse stratigraphy. Probably pit
was cord period pit dug down slightly into earlier sand-tempered area and
plowing has since upturned the normal stratification.
28
Mound D — Feature 32
Village site — Feature 37
Type and number
Depth
1.0 foot below present sod line in old sod line (cluster
No. 2)
1.3 feet below present sod line in old sod (cluster
No. 1)
Total (46)
All these sherds are of early sand-tempered horizon and help to show
that mound D seals off a fabric-impressed period from a later cordmarking
period.
Mound B — Feature 33
Type and number
Depth
Bald-
win
Plain
Fabric
Im-
pressed
Tisho-
mingo
Plain
Houlka
Gray
Alex-
ander
Incised
Miscel-
laneous
0.2-0.8 foot
119
7
40
22
6
2
1
Bottom of sod line to
1.0 foot
Total (197)
126
40
22
6
2
1
Except for Tishomingo Plain, this is sand-tempered horizon. Depending
on how much disturbance there may have been, Tishomingo could be later
inclusion, or more likely, pit dug during clay-grit times into sand-temper
layer and thus included the earlier sand-tempered material.
Mound D — Feature 35
Depth
Type and number
Baldwin
Plain
Fabric
Impressed
Dn pit rim
23
2
5
Below pit rim
Total (30). . .
25
5
Feature 35, like the rest of mound D, is of the sand-tempered horizon
entirely. Again this shows the precedence of fabric -impressed pottery to
)ottery decorated with cordmarking.
Depth
Type and number
Baldwin
Plain
Fabric
Impressed
1.5-2.0 feet
2
1
1
2.0-2.5 feet
Total (4). . .
3
1
Pit is of pure sand-temper horizon. But there are so few sherds that this
interpretation is not very definite.
Village site — Burial 16
Baldwin Plain 1
Tishomingo Cordmarked 4
Tishomingo Plain 1
Total 6
Predominance of clay-grit sherds would place this burial in that period.
Sherds are very few to be truly diagnostic.
Refuse pit — Burials 24 and 26
Type and number
Depth
Bald-
win
Plain
Furrs
Cord-
marked
Tisho-
ming
Cord-
marked
Tisho-
ming
Plain
Houlka
Gray
0.1-0.3 foot below plow line.
Plow line to 0.5 foot below . .
0.5-1-0 foot below plow line.
36
34
19
43
40
18
60
63
28
27
45
3
1
Total (417)
89
101
151
75
1
Complete absence of Fabric Impressed is very strange. Fabric Impressed
(sealed off under mounds) is earlier than Cordmarked, but this is only ex-
ample so far of pit that is pure cordmarked without any fabric. Baldwin
Plain is actually the companion type of Furrs Cordmarked as much as of
Fabric Impressed. Burials in this pit arc either of cord horizon (post-
mound period) or even later and intrusive into cord horizon.
Village site — Burial 21
Baldwin Plain 3
Furrs Cordmarked 5
Tishomingo Cordmarked 12
Predominance of cordmarked pottery places this burial at a time when
sand temper was giving way to clay-grit temper and the majority of sherds
were cordmarked. Or burial could be later and dug down into a layer
representing only cordmarking.
29
CONCLUSIONS
A classification and analysis of ceramic remains is worth while
only so far as it (i) helps to develop a chronological sequence for
the site concerned and (2) helps to place that site in relation to
the broader aspects of cultural development in the surrounding
region. Fortunately, fairly well postulated sequential ceramic
developments for areas adjacent to northeast Mississippi already
exist. In the Pickwick Basin the type of temper used in pottery
manufacture seemed to be a valid diagnostic to changing pottery
wares and could be listed chronologically (Haag, 1942). For the
Pickwick Basin then a tentative chronological sequence of pottery
types running from early to late was as follows: fiber-tempered
ware (Wheeler series), sand-tempered wares (Alexander series),
limestone-tempered series, clay-grit tempered wares (McKelvey
series), and the shell-tempered series. Although Griffin rightly
points out that temper is not always a reliable diagnostic trait
(Griffin, 1939, p. 127), Jennings found that the same generalized
sequence as developed in the Pickwick Basin held good in his
Lee County excavations (Jennings, 1944).
In the other direction, to the southwest of Bynum in the lower
valley of the Mississippi, a well-postulated sequence has been de-
veloped mainly through the work of Ford and Willey. Here
pottery sequence is based on changes in decorative elements and
vessel shapes as revealed through stratigraphy in excavation.
From early to late the periods are as follows, Copell (preceramic),
Tchefuncte, Marksville, Troyville, Coles Creek, Placquemine,
Natchez (historic). (Ford and Willey, 1941).
Although the findings of the Lower Mississippi Valley survey
have not yet appeared in print, there are indications that in the
delta area of western Mississippi there is the same general ceramic
complex of sand-tempered fabric, plain, and cord-impressed wares
with a small amount of Alexander, or Alexanderlike sherds. In
speaking of this matter, Griffin says:
This particular combination is not common in northern Alabama but has
been found around Tupelo in northern Mississippi by Jennings and farther to
the west in the Mississippi flood plain by the Central Mississippi Valley survey.
In these areas the fabric impressed and cord impressed designs are found in an
early Woodland horizon (Griffin, 1945, p. 229).
Both around Tupelo and in the delta area of western Mississippi the Alex-
ander series is found sparingly on sites with a small proportion of fiber tem-
pered pottery and with a high proportion of the early sand-tempered fabric im-
pressed and cordmarked pottery (ibid., p. 230).
It is possible then that the closest relationships to the Bynum
ceramics will be found to lie more to the west in the delta country
of Mississippi than to the northeast in the Pickwick Basin, but it
is impossible at this time to state so until the findings of the lower
Mississippi Valley survey have been published.
As can be seen in the analysis of the Bynum pottery, simi-
larities appeared to lie with pottery more to the northeast than the
southwest, though a few samples of the latter are noted. Types
of temper similar to those of Pickwick Basin prevailed, and pot-
tery types were often indistinguishable from those evolved by
Jennings in Lee County 40 miles to the northeast. Thus, there
is an already established sequence on which to base a pottery de-
velopment for Bynum. As no fiber-tempered ware was found
whatsoever, sand-tempered wares, as represented by Baldwin
Plain, Saltillo Fabric Impressed, Furrs Cordmarked, and Houlka
Gray, are the earliest. Generally accompanying the sand-tem-
pered wares are the limestone, represented by only 17 sherds.
Lack of limestones in Mississippi probably accounts for this. Next
come the clay-grit wares, Tishomingo Cordmarked and Tisho-
mingo Plain, and lastly the shell-tempered pottery (represented
at Bynum by three bone-tempered sherds).
One interesting factor ascertained through analysis of the pot-
tery is the differentiation between sand-tempered fabric impressed
ware (Saltillo) and sand-tempered cordmarked ware (Furrs), as
shown by the pottery recovered from underneath mound D and
the fill of mound D. The erection of mound D over and on top
of an old sod level of the original village site effectively sealed
off this layer so that whatever lay in it was precedent to the erec-
tion of the mound. (See section on excavations.) In this sealed
layer only Baldwin Plain and Saltillo Fabric Impressed sherds
were recovered. In other words, the mound was erected at a
time during which sand-tempered wares only were known, wares
predominantly decorated with fabric impressions. Cordmarked
wares and clay-grit wares were unknown at this time. A few
miscellaneous sand-tempered sherds with punctated or incised
decoration represent probable trade ware from other areas.
In the mound fill no sherds other than Baldwin Plain or Saltillo
Fabric Impressed were found. Since the fill for the mound came
from the areas near to the mound and consisted of old village
debris, cordmarked sherds would be expected in the fill if they
were in use by the villagers at the time the mound was erected.
But in mound D this is not so. Thus mound D separates the
fabric-impressed pottery from the cordmarked and shows that
there was a chronological difference between them.
Further evidence of this is noted in mounds A and B where
beneath the mounds in the old sod and village levels only plain
or fabric-impressed pottery was recovered. But these latter two
mounds, while built over an older pure fabric stratum, were evi-
dently erected at a time when cordmarked pottery was first be-
coming known and the use of clay-grit had just been introduced,
for a few sherds of Furrs Cordmarked (sand-tempered) and a
few Tishomingo Plain (clay-grit temper) were recovered from
the central feature of mound B and the fill of mounds A and B.
With the sand-tempered wares being the earliest, those mounds
and features which show only sand temper or predominantly sand
temper are earlier than those that are more predominantly clay-
grit. In the village area, lower levels of post molds, fire pits, etc.,
either revealed pure sand-tempered plain or fabric sherds or at
least a greater percentage of those types. Predominantly, the clay-
grit and cordmarked wares were more prevalent in the upper and
surface layers of the site. On a percentage basis alone this preva-
lence of clay-grit wares in upper levels would tend to show that
there was a chronological difference between them and the sand-
tempered plain and fabric-impressed. But the clear case of dif-
ferentiation as shown by mound D demonstrates this fact amply.
Fabric-impressed pottery is found generally throughout the
Southeast. Often it appears on an early level. It is usually ac-
companied by cordmarked pottery. In the Baumer Culture (of
30
southern Illinois, northern Kentucky, and southwestern Indiana)
both fabric-decorated and cordmarked pottery is present, but the
fabric-impressed dominates six to one (Bennett, 1941 ). In west-
ern Tennessee very little fiber-tempered pottery is found, but a
Baumer type fabric-marked occurs early followed by a cordmarked
ware, Harmon's Creek Cordmarked (Lewis and Kneberg, 1947,
p. 35). In the Pickwick Basin area a very few sand-tempered
sherds with either cord or fabric impressions were found — 12 cord
and 15 fabric — but fabric impression comes in strongly in the lime-
stone-tempered wares, there being 1,592 sherds of Long Branch
Fabric Marked (Haag, 1942). In the Norris Basin, fabric-im-
pressed ware and cordmarked ware similar in appearance to that
of Bynum was recovered, but there the majority of it is either
limestone-tempered or clay-grit tempered (Griffin, 1938). In the
Wheeler Basin plain plaited fabric impressions occur on limestone
and shell-tempered shreds; cordmarking occurs mainly on lime-
stone, clay-grit, and even shell-tempered sherds (Griffin, 1939,
P- 157)-
Collins obtained cordmarked pottery which was tempered with
crushed sherds at the Deasonville site in the Yazoo Valley of
Mississippi (Collins, 1932, p. 15). The sherds illustrated by Col-
lins in plate 2 in his Excavations at a Prehistoric Indian Village
Site in Mississippi can be easily duplicated by many recovered
from the Bynum excavations (pi. 8, figs. 10, 11, 12, and pi. 9, figs.
1-13, inclusive). This cordmarked ware is one of the criteria
for designating Ford's former Deasonville complex (Ford, 1936,
p. 143). Another is a red slipped ware; this latter, however, ex-
cept for possibly one sherd, is missing from the Bynum excavation.
That fabric-impressed and cordmarked pottery is prevalent
throughout the southeastern, central, and northern portions of the
Southeast area seems to be a well-established fact. In the south-
ern Mississippi area it does not, however, show up in pottery com-
plexes of Tchefuncte, but it does appear at the close of the Marks-
ville period and it "achieved the peak of its popularity in the suc-
ceeding Troyville period" (Ford and Willey, 1941, p. 341)- It
seems to be a part of the generalized Woodland pattern, possibly
spreading down from the north and northwest. Griffin, in speak-
ing of fabric-impressed pottery, says:
Whenever it occurs, it seems to be associated with Woodland material and
can be described as a subtype of Woodland pottery (Griffin, 1939, p. 161).
Just recently in the Etowah drainage of Georgia a situation
similar to that at Bynum has been discovered in which at one site
(Two Run Creek, 3-Br) there was a mound and village site. In
the lowest stratum of the village site fabric-impressed predomi-
nated by 98 percent but became increasingly less in the higher
strata. By the time the Indians built the mound, fabric-impressed
pottery had become much scarcer (only 4.8 percent at mound
base) and finally it disappeared entirely. Wauchope says of this
pottery:
Since fabric-impressed pottery appears at Two Run Creek in the earliest
evel at full strength and associated only with a small percentage of Mossy
Dak Simple Stamped, and since it gradually decreases as the other early
varcs appear (Deptford Check Stamped and Woodstock Stamped), it is
learly the earliest majority ware in the Etowah Drainage (Wauchope, 1948,
>. 202).
The fabric-impressed pottery discussed by Wauchope is com-
parable to the Dunlap Fabric Impressed of central Georgia (ibid.,
p. 201), which is a sand-tempered ware with "similar and re-
lated types widespread in Eastern United States from Alabama to
New England" (Southeastern News Letter, vol. II, No. 2).
Wauchope says that the site had been abandoned between the
time "of village occupation and the first mound occupation."
Thus, the mound erection sealed off the fabric-impressed sand-
tempered pottery at Two Run Creek site just as mound D did at
Bynum.
On the basis of the excavation record and pottery analysis at
Bynum, plus comparisons with other regions in the southeastern
field, it seems to be a valid conclusion that fabric-impressed pottery
is an early pottery trait and that it is often accompanied by cord-
marked pottery. But in at least two cases to date, Bynum and
Two Run Creek in Georgia, fabric-impressed is demonstrably
earlier than the cordmarking. Thus, the earliest pottery mani-
festation at Bynum is a sand-tempered ware, either plain or fabric
impressed, with plain vessel shapes that show a marked right angle
everted rim as well as the more conventional conoidal bowls with
a slightly flaring rim and occasional open shallow bowls.
Chronologically following the fabric-impressed pottery, there
is the sand-tempered Furrs Cordmarked, which in turn is shown
to be earlier than the clay-grit cordmarked (Tishomingo) by the
work of Jennings in Lee County (Jennings, 1941 ). These three
pottery types are ones which are all considered to be generally
Woodland and reflect influences, trade, or actual migrations into
the southeastern area from further north and northeast. The
closest similarities to this pottery are found in the region of Lee
County, Miss., Pickwick Basin, Ala., the Norris and Wheeler
Basins, Tenn., and in northern Georgia. Thus, for the Bynum
site there is a chronological pottery sequence as follows: Baldwin
Plain and Saltillo Fabric Impressed; Furrs Cordmarked; Houlka
Gray; Limestone Tempered (sparsely represented); Tishomingo
Cordmarked and Tishomingo Plain; and a few sherds (such as
the bone-tempered) probably representative of the shell-tempered
times.
The absence of fiber-tempered ware at Bynum (generally con-
ceded to be the earliest pottery type in the Southeast) is not in-
dicative that the Bynum sand-tempered wares take its place. For
surface surveys in both Lee and Chickasaw Counties show that
there are many sites which produce fiber-tempered ware, some of
them accompanied only by sand-tempered wares. Just to the
cast of Bynum, not over 15 miles away, is a small midden site
(MCs-4) which has produced fiber-tempered pottery ( 1.2 percent)
as well as numerous good examples of the sand-tempered Alex-
ander series type sherds (6.1 percent) characteristic of northern
Alabama. There are even quantities of fabric-impressed (12.1
percent), Furrs Cordmarked sherds (16.9 percent), and Tisho-
mingo Cordmarked (2.9 percent) in our surface collection of over
600 sherds. By far the greatest percentage, however, is repre-
sented by the sand-tempered Baldwin Plain (47.9 percent).
A second interesting fact brought out by the excavations and
pottery analysis of the Bynum site is the affiliation to the south
as reflected by the portion of a Marksville pot and the few other
31
sherds of Marksville type. As already mentioned, the Marksville
period precedes the cordmarking period in the Lower Valley
(Ford and Willey, 1941, p. 341), and on scanty evidence seems to
be coeval with the later phase of the sand-tempered period of
Bynum. But Tchefuncte, the period preceding Marksville in the
South, can be equated with the Alexander series (sand-tempered)
in the Pickwick Basin of northern Alabama (Ford and Quimby,
1945, p. 91). The few rather dubious sherds of the Alexander
series as recovered from Bynum would seem to show that full
Alexander influence was not felt at Bynum, possibly because it
was already on the wane by the time Bynum was inhabited. Since
Bynum lies half way between the areas of northern Alabama and
Marksville, it might be expected to receive influences from both
directions on a slightly delayed basis, and such seems to be the
case. Marksville influence at Bynum occurred in the sand-tem-
pered period at the time cordmarking (Furrs Cordmarked) was
first known. (See chart No. 1.)
A third interesting fact is the close agreement between the pot-
tery sequence as developed at Bynum and that which Jennings
worked out for Lee County. As already noted, the ceramics are
very similar. Jennings postulated three pre-Chickasaw periods
in the Lee County area, all named after the type of site (Miller)
at which they were first delineated. His Miller I period is charac-
terized by fiber-tempered plain pottery and sand-tempered textile-
marked sherds only. Miller II which included domed conical bur-
ial mounds and other traits also displayed at Bynum was ceramic-
ally characterized by sand-tempered cordmarked pottery (Furrs),
vessels with a conoidal or pointed bottom, and some Alexander
and Tchefuncte wares. Miller III was difficult to separate in all
traits from Miller II, but the former possessed clay-grit tempered
pottery (Tishomingo Cordmarked) rather than the types charac-
teristic of the earlier periods (Jennings, 1944, pp. 411-413). Ap-
plying Jennings' terminology to the Bynum site, Miller I is repre-
sented (in its later phases, since no fiber-tempered ware was found)
by the sand-tempered textile-marked sherds of the old village
previous to the mound building. Miller II at Bynum is the period
of mound erection and the rapid development of cordmarked
wares, first the sand-tempered Furrs and later the clay-grit tem-
pered Tishomingo. As indicated by Jennings (1944, p. 4 12 ),
Miller III is difficult to distinguish in all cases from Miller II but
it is most logically represented at Bynum by the continuation of
the clay-grit cordmarking and the cessation of mound building.
No indications of temple mound building were found at the
Bynum site. The percentage of clay-grit tempered wares (20.13)
was much less than that of the sand-tempered wares (79.16) and
would indicate a much shorter occupation of the site during the
time of clay-grit tempered wares. Once the site was abandoned,
sometime during the mound building period when clay-grit wares
were becoming well known, it was not reoccupied until the early
part of the nineteenth century when a group of historic Chickasaw
lived there for a short period.
Chart I gives a schematic presentation of the chronological
placement of the Bynum site in relation to other better known
areas. On the left-hand side of the chart are placed the approxi-
mate guess dates. Then from left to right the archeological areas
are given in sequence as they proceed from the Lower Mississippi
Valley geographically northeast to the Pickwick Basin area. On
the right hand side of the chart are listed the generalized periods
as postulated by Ford and Willey (Ford and Willey, 1941). Jen-
nings' Miller periods are indicated along the left side of the column
representing the Lee County area. Arrangement of the chart is
based on Ford and Quimby 1945, on Ford and Willey 1941, on
Jennings 1941, and on Webb and Dejarnette 1942.
Because of the similarities of some of the nonceramic traits of
Bynum with traits of Adena, brief reference should be made to the
pottery sometimes associated with typical Adena sites. Adena
pottery is predominantly grit or limestone-tempered, and the ma-
jority of it is either plain or smoothed (Griffin, 1945, p. 225). A
small amount of cord-marking does appear, and a thickened rim
and small rim nodes all seem to be characteristic (ibid.). Griffin
recognizes this pottery as a "significant unit of the widespread
Woodland ceramic tradition" (ibid., p. 243). If there is any
relationship between the pottery of Bynum and that which is
generally considered as Adena, it is on the basis that both are
manifestations of a basic Woodland ceramic development. A
few of both the Saltillo Fabric and Furrs Cordmarked show a
rim thickening which may be related to that employed in Adena,
but no rim nodes of any sort were noted among the Bynum
specimens.
Having thus established a chronology for Bynum based on
pottery and having related Bynum ceramics in their broader as-
pects to other areas, it is now possible to examine the features and
mounds of Bynum and see what, if any, their interrelationship
may be. Since sand-tempered pottery was found both under the
mound and in the mound fill but no cordmarked ware occurred
in either location, the inference is obvious that mound D is the
earliest of those excavated. Both mounds A and B showed evi-
dence of cordmarked wares in their fills and associated with their
principal features. Mound F, which produced only a handful of
sherds, like mound D was a pure sand-tempered mound, but, since
mound F was badly eroded by cultivation, the interpretation that
it is also an early mound is not as valid as in the case of mound D.
Mound E produced no sherd material, and mound C was un-
excavated so that these two cannot be used in the discussion.
The question now arises as to which of the remaining two
mounds, A and B, was the earlier. Both mounds A and B pro-
duced cordmarked pottery of the sand-tempered type (Furrs) and
the clay-grit type (Tishomingo). But in each case the ma-
jorities of these wares were found within the first foot beneath
the surface of the mound, where they might most likely occur if
lost or scattered over the surface of the mound anytime after its
erection. Sherds occurring this way over the surface and in the
first foot of the mound fill indicate only that cordmarking and
clay-grit tempering did not reach their full strength as complexes
until after the completion of the mounds. In mound A there was
no cordmarked pottery associated with the central feature, but in
the fill above the central feature to a height of one foot there was
1.5 percent Furrs Cordmarked, 0.4 percent Tishomingo Cord-
32
Chart I
A. D.
Mississippi Lower
Valley
Bynum, site
Lee County, Miss.
Pickwick Basin
General periods
1800
Natchez
Chickasaw
Miller III—
>
Miller II—
r
Miller I—
Ackia
Shell tempered series
1700
Tishomingo
(clay-grit)
Shell Temper
DeSoto
Placquemine
Temple Mound II
and
Temple Mound I
Coles Creek
Tishomingo
(clay-grit)
McKelvey series
(clay-grit)
Troyville
Burial Mound II
1000
Limestone series
and
Marksville
Furrs
Cord marked
Furrs
Cordmarked
Tchefuncte
Burial Mound I
Saltillo
Saltillo
Sand-tempered
Alexander series
500
Copell
Fiber temper
Fiber temper
Archaic
marked, and no Tishomingo Plain. In mound B, however, as-
sociated with the central feature there was 0.4 percent Furrs Cord-
marked, 0.1 percent Tishomingo Cordmarked, and 0.1 percent
Tishomingo Plain. In the foot of fill immediately above the cen-
tral feature there was only 0.05 percent Tishomingo Plain. (See
chart No. 2.) Thus, mound A has none of the cordmarking asso-
ciated with the central feature and only a small percentage in the
fill and debris immediately above that feature, whereas mound B
has a much larger percentage cordmarked associated with the
central feature (especially the rim log molds), but only a small
percentage in the immediate fill above it. In total quantities
mound A has the higher percentage of cordmarked ceramics
(chart No. 2). Although possibly a good case could be made for
the priority of either mound, mound A seems to be the slightly
earlier one. As will be shown in the final conclusions of this
study, there is other evidence of a nonceramic nature for the
placing of mound A as slightly precedent to the erection of mound
B. On the basis of ceramics alone, while an interpretation either
way is possible, priority of mound A is more probable.
The majority of the features found especially in the village area
can be assigned relative placements within the Bynum sequence.
Most of these fit best within the period of sand-tempered pottery
and, as can be seen from the analysis sheets in the foregoing sec-
tions, consist of the following features: No. 7 (sealed off by mound
A); Nos. 32 and 35 (both part of mound D); Nos. 19, 27, and
28 (probably early in this period); Nos. 14, 16, 21, 24, and the pit
south of mound B are intermediate; and No. 17 is late in the
period. No. 37 and the pit 60 feet northwest of mound A had too
few sherds to be really diagnostic. Feature No. 20 belongs to
both the early part of the sand-tempered period and to the Furrs
Cordmarked part. No. 29 is solely Furrs Cordmarked, and No.
30 may be likewise though more dubiously so.
Nos. 23 and 16 seem to be purely of the clay-grit period, though
the latter has rather few sherds to state definitely. Nos 24, 25,
Chart 2
Percent
Provenience
Furrs
Cord-
marked
Tisho-
mingo
Cord-
marked
Tisho-
mingo
Plain
MOUND A
Total
6.8
None
1.5
4.2
.4
None
0.4
None
.4
4.2
.1
None
1.5
Associated central feature on floor
1.0 foot above mound floor to mound
floor
None
None
MOUND B
Total
3.5
Associated central feature
. 1
1 .0 foot above mound floor
.05
and 26 belong to both the Furrs Cordmarked period and the clay-
grit period. No. 27 seems to tall into this latter classification but
33
has too few sherds to state definitely. Unknown are Nos. 22,
which has too few sherds of both types, and 25, which was dis-
turbed by a burial of a later period. No. 33 was of the clay-grit
period also but was dug down into a layer representative of the
sand-tempered period. These features are summarized in chart
No. 3.
The pottery from the Bynum site presents a remarkably homo-
geneous appearance, and the strength with which fabric-im-
pressed sand-tempered ware appears in the earliest levels would
indicate that it was a full pottery complex in its own right. Out-
side influences are slight, but what there are can be used as time
and chronology indicators to afford cross ties with other regions
better known. Lack of limestone-tempered wares at Bynum is
easily understandable on the basis of the complete lack of lime-
stone locally. The few samples recovered are probably actual
importations. Trade influences from the south are mainly with
Marksville, an area which is south and west of Natchez. Trade
influences from the north seem to derive from eastern Tennessee
and northern Alabama in the Pickwick Basin area. Both areas
are naturally contingent to the Natchez Trace and indicate that
even at an early date the Trace (or a comparable path) was being
used as a trade and commerce route by the Indians as well as a
hunting and war path.
Summary. Based on the already established chronological sys-
tems of nearby areas, a developmental sequence for the ceramics
of Bynum was worked out as follows: Baldwin Plain, Saltillo
Fabric, Furrs Cordmarked, and Houlka Gray, all sand-tempered
wares, seemed to appear at Bynum as the earliest group and to
have appeared in that order. Toward the close of the sand-
tempered wares were the limestone wares (of which only a few
imported samples were found) and in turn next appeared the
clay-grit wares (Tishomingo Cordmarked and Tishomingo
Plain). These latter in part overlapped the earlier sand-tempered
wares. At no time did one type of pottery suddenly cease just
as the other started. Each was a natural development from the
preceding one.
On the basis of the chronological ceramic development it was
possible to postulate that mounds D and F were the earliest, fol-
lowed by A and B in that order. Mound D effectively sealed off
the Saltillo Fabric Impressed ware from the Furrs Cordmarked
and Tishomingo Cordmarked and formed the basis for the chron-
ological differentiation between those two types. The majority
of the features found in the village area belong to the sand-tem-
pering period, which seems to be the longer period at Bynum
judging from mere quantity of sherds. Bynum possesses a much
higher percentage of sand-tempered ware than clay-grit. How-
ever, features more representative of the later clay-grit period
would overlay the earlier sand-tempered ones and thus be more
subject to the forces of erosion and cultivation which seem to
have removed much of the surface indications from the site. Many
of the post molds and diagnostic traits which would have indi-
cated a greater occupation during clay-grit times probably long
since have been plowed away.
No pottery was found associated with the burials of the historic
period, and they are assigned their sequential place on the basis
of grave goods found with them. It seems that there were two
Chart 3
Summary of features
Sand tempered — Feature No.
Furrs Cordmarked — Feature No.
Clay-Grit — Feature No.
Unknown — Feature No.
7]
29
23
22 (only a few sherds, both
19
30 (dubious)
16 (dubious)
types)
27
28
Early
33 (dug into sand-tempered
layer)
25 (disturbed by burial)
32
35
24
25
26
14
27 (only few sherds)
16
21
24
Inter-
mediate
Pit south mound B
3 7 l Late
Pit 60 feet northwest mound A
20
34
main periods of occupation at the Bynum site — one prehistoric,
during which largely sand-tempered pottery was made and clay-
grit pottery-making developed, and the second period, which fol-
lowed the first after a hiatus or abandonment of the site and
which was characterized by a brief settlement of historic Chicka-
saws in the early nineteenth century. These latter Indians made
no native pottery, probably having become completely accul-
turated to the metal cooking devices of white men. The three
bone-tempered sherds might indicate that a very few vessels of
native manufacture were known at this time. The first, or pre-
historic period at Bynum, can be correlated with the Miller periods
as developed by Jennings in Lee County; the later phases of Miller
I coequate with the sand-tempered premound occupation at By-
num; Miller II is roughly equivalent to the mound-erection phase
at Bynum, Furrs Cordmarked pottery, and the beginning of the
introduction of clay-grit wares. Miller III, in its earlier phases
at least, is equivalent to the short period of post mound, clay-grit
tempered pottery at Bynum.
In the next section the nonceramic remains of Bynum will be
described and discussed and assigned their place in the Bynum
sequence wherever possible. Then the entire site, both cerami-
cally and nonceramically, will be considered as a unit; and
finally such cultural implications will be made as are permissible
on the basis of the evidence at hand.
35
Nonceramic Analysis
COPPER
Copper spools. Among the most interesting of the nonceramic
remains are the copper spools which were recovered from all three
of the mounds, A, B, and D. These spools are interesting and
important for two reasons — (i) in the case in which they were
found definitely associated with a skeleton, they were located on
the wrists rather than near the head (p. 12, fig. No. 3) and (2)
some of the specimens recovered were filled with galena. They
also show that the early Indians possessed a high degree of tech-
nical skill in cold-working copper and that they possibly knew the
elementary principles of melting and casting lead. Furthermore,
the nearest available sources of copper, pure enough for cold-
hammering and easily extracted from the ground, are the sur-
face mines in the Lake Superior region. The nearest source of
lead is in the vicinity of Joplin, Mo. Thus, trade over an ex-
tensive area is also indicated.
Dimensions, copper spools
Mound A:
No. 1 — 4.2 by 2.2 centimeters, funnel, 1.2 centimeters (field speci-
men No. 433).
No. 2 — 4.1 by ? centimeters (crushed at angle), funnel, 1.0 centimeter
(field specimen No. 434).
No. 3 — 4.2 by 1.9 centimeters, funnel, 0.8 centimeter (field specimen
No. 435).
No. 3 — 4.2 by 1.9 centimeters, funnel, 0.8 centimeter (field specimen
No. 432).
Mound D:
Partially destroyed; lead filling 1.0 centimeter wide, 0.4 centimeter
thick; radius of spool 2.2 centimeters; funnel diameter 1 .2 centimeters;
over-all height (estimated) 2.0+ centimeters.
Mound B:
No. 1 — Lead filled (poor condition); radius of spool (estimated) 2.2
centimeters; funnel diameter 0.8 centimeter; lead fill 1.8 centimeters
wide (extended to central perforation) 0.4 centimeter thick (field
specimen No. 436).
No. 2 — Partially lead filled (very fragmentary condition); radius of
spool (estimated) 2.2 centimeters; lead fill 2.1 centimeters wide (ex-
tends to and around central perforation); O14 centimeter thick (field
specimen No. 1754).
No. 3 — (Badly crushed); 4.0 by 1.8 centimeters; funnel (size now un-
known) (field specimen No. 665A).
No. 4 — (Badly crushed); 4.1 centimeters (too crushed to measure thick-
ness); funnel (size now unknown) (field specimen No. 665B).
All of the copper spools recovered from Bynum generally con-
form to a broad type. That is, they are double-cymbal-shaped
spools; yet each is rather complex in formation. Each spool
was composed of four separate parts: two funnel-shaped units,
each with a single wide flaring flange at one end (pi. II, figs. 2b
and 2c), and two caps, or crown pieces, with curved edges and
depressed centers with small perforations in the middle that
fitted over the flanged ends of the funnels. Plate 11, figures 2a
and 2d, illustrates the various parts which constitute one of these
spools. Figures 2a-2d are the crowns and Figures 2b and 2c
are the flanged funnels. The pieces were riveted together by
hammering the tube of one funnel into the tube of the other and
then annealing the edges of the crown to the edges of the flange
on the funnel by cold-hammering the copper. Plate 11, figure 1,
shows top and side views of one of the complete copper spools
recovered from mound A which has been constructed in this
manner. All four spools found associated directly with the wrists
of burial 1 in mound A were of this type construction and did
not contain any lead filling. Two of these spools, however, had
remains of twined string wrapped around the funnel portion of
the spool. Two of the four spools recovered from mound B
were also of this type construction, though more deteriorated and
flattended by earth pressure than the specimens in mound A.
These two from mound B had twined string emerging from
the small center hole and extending to the rim of the spool (pi.
11, figs. 6 and 7). It is interesting to note that Squier and Davis
(1848, pp. 206-207) mention copper spools of the double-cymbal
type with thread wound on the axes from mounds at Cincinnati
and near Chillicothe and offer the suggestion that the concavo-
convex portions may have been hammered into shape over the
depressions in a pitted stone such as one located in one of the
Chillicothe mounds. The same possibility for a use for pitted
stones at the Bynum site is observed on page 41 of this report.
The remaining three spools, while generally of the same type
construction as the first six, differ markedly in one respect, that
is, the interior portions between the upper surfaces of the
flanges and the inner surfaces of the crowns were filled with
galena. This galena has now turned into a whitish semihard
substance. Through the courtesy of David L. Dejarnett, Curator,
Alabama Museum of Natural History, an analysis of a specimen
of this galena was made by Dr. T. N. McVay, Mineralogist.
McVay rendered the following report:
Spectograph
Main
Small
Trace
Pb
Bu
Fe
Cu
Ca
Al
Si
Ti
Zr
Hg
37
In my opinion this material was galena which altered in the soil. I un-
derstand that this material was in a hole in a copper gorget. If so, there was
probably an electrochemical reaction which aided the alteration of the Pb S
(Dr. T. N. McVay, Mineralogist).
Of the two spools from mound B (found associated close to-
gether, see section on excavations) that contained lead filling, one
had the galena only in one portion of the spool, the other flange-
and-crown space was empty and formed like the mound A type.
In the portion which is lead filled, the under side of the flange is
flattened out at right angles to the axis of the spool, whereas the
other flange is curved to match the curve of the crown (pi. n,
fig. 4, illustrates a diagrammatic cross section of this spool). The
remaining spool from mound B had lead filling in both halves of
the spool and, in this case, the under side of each flange was flat-
tened at right angles to the axis of the spool (pi. 11, fig. 3, illus-
trates a cross section of this spool).
The ninth and last spool recovered at Bynum was found in the
crematory pit in the center of the main feature of mound D just
below the level of the floor. (See section on excavations, p. 9.)
Like the above-mentioned type from mound B, this one lone spool
from mound D was lead filled, both halves being equally filled
(pi. 11, fig. 3).
Galena-filled spools are not common in the Southeast. Webb
found one in the Pickwick Basin at site Lu°63 with burial 10
(Webb, 1942, p. 155, and pi. 178, fig. 1). Two other nonlead-
filled spools were found on either side of the teeth caps of this
burial, the lead-filled spool was about 1 foot away and was broken
into two halves. Only one half had the lead filling. It was im-
possible to tell if these two halves were originally joined, but if they
were, they would make a spool of the type illustrated in plate 11,
figure 4. Evidences of twine thread were found around the fun-
nel portion of the lower half (the one without the lead filling).
In this case, the galena is two to three millimeters thick and six
to eight millimeters wide, dimensions which correspond closely to
the other Bynum specimens.
A second lead-filled spool was found at the Copena burial
mound site, Ms" 134 in Marshall County, Guntersville Basin, Ala.,
by Webb, but is as yet unreported. (A cross-sectional drawing
of this specimen appears in ms. by David L. Dejarnette, Prog-
ress Report on Archaeological Investigations in Alabama, Decem-
ber 194 1, photo No. 496 CAL, fig. B, p. 10. Further information
concerning this specimen was supplied through the courtesy of
Steve B. Wimberly, Curator, Mound State Park, Moundville,
Ala.) The spool found in the Guntersville Basin is in a frag-
mentary condition, but evidently both halves were lead filled, as
in illustration, plate 11, figure 3. It was found unassociated near
the top of the mound (0.5 foot beneath the surface). The galena
filling in this case is not pure galena, but seems to be composed
of about equal parts of clay and crushed galena.
Such lead-filled copper spools must have been recovered in
other excavations, but no reports of such are known to the authors.
It may be that in cases where the copper has not corroded away
sufficiently to expose the lead filling or the specimen is in such
good condition that the lead filling is not obvious, this trait has
gone unnoticed. Or, the three spools from Bynum, the one from
Pickwick, and the one from the Guntersville Basin may be iso-
38
lated examples of experimentation on the part of the early In-
dians. This last theory, however, does not seem very likely.
Five specimens are too few in number on which to draw any
generalities, but it should be noted that in each of these five cases
the spools were not associated with a skull in the region of the
ears. In fact, in only one of the five cases (the one from Lu°63)
was it even remotely associated with a skeleton at all. In this case
there was found a set of two ear spools in position near the teeth
caps as though originally placed by or on the ears. The lead-
filled specimen was found about a foot away from the area of
the skull.
It is interesting to speculate as to just how the Indians were
able to fill a copper spool with lead. It might be assumed that
lead forms were first molded or hammered and that subsequendy
the copper spool was made by cold-hammering the copper around
the lead form. Unfortunately, lead is softer than copper, and
cold-hammering copper on a leaden form would distort the lead
mold more than it would mold the copper. The way in which
the lead fill is level in both halves and does not extend past the
small center perforation in the copper crown gives a clue to their
manufacture. Lead has a much lower melting point than copper
(lead, 327 C; copper, 1,085° C.) and will not stick to it in a
molten condition. If one of the small central holes in the crown
of the spool were plugged and then the spool turned upside down,
melted lead could be poured through the other central perforation
and would run down between the flange and crown and fill the
space previously left open. Molten lead would tend to level off
evenly on all sides of the funnel. When the lead fill on one side
had hardened, the plug in the central perforation would be
pulled out and inserted in the other opening, the spool up-ended,
and the process repeated, thus filling both sides. The flanges on
the funnels must have been made flat beforehand so that extra
space for the lead fill would be gained, for these flanges are flat
in all the specimens which contain lead filling and not in any of
those which are without it (pi. 11, fig. 3). In the specimen found
in mound B (pi. 11, fig. 4) in which only half the spool was lead
filled, it is only that same half which has the flattened flange.
The other is curved in the manner of those without the lead fill.
The other interesting factor concerning these copper spools
from Bynum is the fact that in none of the nine cases was there
one in which the spool was found associated in any way with the
skull or the region of the ears. In Hopewell burials copper spools
are often found on hands or wrists (Morehead 1922, p. 121). In
most all southeastern cases known to the authors, where copper
spools have been recovered in association with skeletons, they have
always been found directly associated with the skull, usually in
the region of the ears. In fact such is the prevalence of this asso-
ciation in southeastern burials that these spools are universally
referred to in the literature as "ear spools." In the Bynum exca-
vations, however, the four which were found with a burial (burial
1, mound A) were definitely associated with the region of the
wrists, one pair to each arm, one spool on each side of the wrist
(pi. 12, fig. 3). The four spools that were found in mound B
were located in two pairs about two feet apart, each spool of each
pair only a couple of inches from its companion. Although no
sign of a burial was encountered at this point, these spools were
arranged in such a way that they could have been fitted — one pair
apiece — to each wrist. But by no means would they have been
in position to have fitted on the ears or on either side of a skull.
The ninth spool was found in the crematory pit of mound D in
close proximity with bits of tooth enamel, the only trace of skele-
tal remains in the mound. In this case, one can only state that
the spool was possibly associated with a cremation.
While lead-filled copper spools are not common in the South-
east, copper spools in general are quite common. Webb reports
one from an Adena mound (Metzger mound) (Webb, 1945, p.
159), and in his trait list (ibid., p. 156), lists Adena as having a
"trace" of copper ear spools. They are, however, much more
frequent in Hopewell and in Copena (ibid.). Webb lists them as
"predominant" for Hopewell and "frequent" for Copena, but they
are not always of exactly the same form and type of manufacture
as those found at Bynum. In general, the Copena spools were
. . . made of very thin sheet copper and some were so corroded that the
metal had disappeared, leaving only copper salts. Each was constructed of
two concave disks, riveted together at the center by a small cylinder of copper.
The disks varied in diameter from 1.3 to 2 inches. Each disk was made of
a double sheet of copper and several contained remnants of string wound
around the central rivet (Webb, 1942, p. 157).
At the Crooks site in Louisiana, the type Marksville site, five
spools were found (Ford and Willey, 1940, p. 123). Four were
similar in that they were single concavo-convex disks about 4 centi-
meters in diameter and about 3 millimeters thick. Each had
small masses of wood or shell "adhering to the interior sides of
the spools" (ibid.). The fifth, while of a similar shape, was
different from the other four:
Apparently a rather heavy sheet of copper (about 2 millimeters thick) was
rolled into a cylinder 1 centimeter in diameter. The central portion of the
tube was retained in that form; but the two ends were spread by hammering
to make two disks, each over 3 centimeters in diameter. At present the
disks are much thinner than the connecting tube, and much of them has
been lost through oxidization (ibid.).
The latter spool is more of a type with those recovered at By-
num, though in this case the tube (funnel) and two flanges seem
to be of one contiguous piece of copper. If this spool from the
Crook's site was capped with secondary pieces as were those
of Bynum, the crowns are now gone. The other spools may be
merely copper-covered wooden earplugs such as the ones re-
covered in the Hiwassee Island site in Tennessee (Lewis and
Kneberg, 1940, p. 131).
The closest similarities with the Bynum spools seem to be those
recovered in Copena sites in Alabama, which, as mentioned
earlier, were formed of two funnels with flanged ends which were
hammered together after the funnel of one had been inserted
in the funnel of the other. The flanged ends would then be
capped by a concave crown and the edges annealed by cold-ham-
mering (Dejarnette, op. cit., pp. 9 and 10).
Unfortunately, except for one crude copper bead recovered
from mound D, the copper spools represent the only copper arti-
facts recovered from the early prehistoric level at Bynum. Com-
pletely lacking at Bynum are the other characteristic copper arti-
facts usually associated with Copena burials such as the copper
bracelets, reels, celts, beads (excepting the mound D, feature 35,
specimen), and pendants.
From an analysis of the pottery at Bynum (see pottery section)
it can be postulated fairly definitely that mound D was the earliest
of the three main mounds. It is interesting to note then that
it was mound D which yielded up the example of a lead-filled
spool in which both sides were lead filled. Mound B likewise had
one spool, both sides of which were lead filled and one spool of
which only one side was filled, while the remaining two spools
of mound B had no lead filling whatsoever. Mound A on the
other hand had four spools, none of which possessed lead filling.
The pottery analysis indicated but did not show definitely that
mound A was slightly antecedent to mound B. The spools from
mound B are not only of both types as found in mounds A and
D but of an intermediate type (half-filled) also. Why the earliest
form should be the completely lead-filled one is unknown.
Possibly the practice of filling them with lead was discontinued
if the source of lead was no longer obtainable. If these spools had
been found associated with the region of the ears, it could be
postulated that the extra weight of the lead became unbearable,
but that theory does not hold at least for Bynum since none of
the spools were so associated.
Miscellaneous copper. A fragment of rolled sheet copper was
also found in the crematory pit of mound D. The roll is slightly
conical at one end and measures 1.5 centimeters by 1.1 centimeters
wide. Evidently this is a small rolled piece of sheet copper such
as was used in making the copper spools. There is the possibility
that the Bynum Indians traded for the raw copper or for copper
in sheet form and then manufactured their own artifacts as well
as trading directly for the finished product.
A small piece of rolled copper sheeting with one end bent over
into a knob was found in the village area 0.3 foot below the sur-
face. It was unassociated with any other object. The copper
itself is in a fair state of preservation (better than much of the
copper from the mounds), and, while it is possible that this piece
is prehistoric, its general condition, appearance, and lack of asso-
ciation make it more probable that this is a fragment from a
recent historic tool.
GALENA
Several samples of raw galena were recovered from the Bynum
excavations. Only one of these was associated with the mounds,
and that was a group of small fragments (eight in all) which
were found on the west rim of feature 8 in mound B. The larg-
est of these fragments is 7 by 5 by 3 millimeters and the smallest
is 4.5 by 2 by 0.7 millimeters. Very probably at one time these
eight fragments fitted together into one larger piece.
A much larger spherical piece of galena was recovered from
within the large circle pattern of feature 21 at a depth of 0.3 foot
from the surface. It measures 2.3 by 2 by 1.7 centimeters.
A very large rectanguloid piece of galena was recovered from
the surface of the village site, unassociated with mound or feature.
It measures 5 by 4.5 by 3.1 centimeters.
The use of galena in connection with some of the spools from
Bynum has already been noted. (See subsection on copper
spools). Other than this, no use of the galena was observed at
39
Bynum, the pieces found being crude lumps. By its occurrence
in the copper spools, the use of lead seems to be early at Bynum.
Barite boat-shaped bars are noted in Adena.
Barite (barium sulphate) occurs in outcrop veins in central Kentucky and
usually carries with it a considerable percentage of galena (lead sulphide)
and "black jack" (zinc sulphide) (Webb, 1945, pp. 89-90).
Galena is also reported from Copena sites in northern Alabama
where it is found mainly as unformed lumps. A few galena beads
are the only artifacts of this nature reported (Dejarnette, op. cit.,
p. 17). However, many of the galena balls are quite large. In
the Copena site of Hn°4 in Alabama, 44 chunks of galena were
found of varying size. The smallest weight was 16 ounces, the
largest weight 5.8 pounds (Webb, 1942, p. 39). The largest piece
from Bynum weighs 1354 ounces.
STONE
Lithic material at the Bynum site may be divided into flaked
and ground artifacts. Neither was plentiful, the majority of the
flaked specimens being represented by projectile points, and
ground specimens by the greenstone celts of feature 8, mound B.
The over-all paucity of stone implements at this site is in itself
of prime significance, strongly indicating, especially in the ab-
sence of bone, antler, or shell artifacts, a reliance upon wooden
implements in prehistoric times and upon trade goods in the early
nineteenth century. The complete absence of such forms as stone
pipes, stone hoes, figurines, paint palettes, placques, shaft straight-
eners, balls, plummet stones, bar gorgets, cannel coal disks, and
any evidence of intentional breakage of artifacts deposited with
burials must share significance with the presence of the forms to
be described. Table 23 gives a summation of provenience, and
table 24 measurements of Bynum lithic artifacts.
Flawed stone. All points at Bynum fall into two categories,
stemmed and stemless, if two points with deep lateral basal
notches are classed as stemmed. The stemmed points are divided
into (A) flared stem grading into barbed shoulders, base slightly
to markedly convex, sides curved, length averaging 8.4 centi-
meters, represented by the 19 points of feature 8, mound B (pi. 5,
figs. 1-4, inclusive), and (B) the smaller, simple haft points with
elongate form, average 5 centimeters long, sloping shoulders, stem
tapering or rounded, associated with the village site (pi. 10, figs.
18, 22, 23, and 24). An expanding stem variant (C) seen in plate
13, figure 3, may also be termed a side-notched point, since the
stem expands almost to the width of the shoulders below the
lateral basal notches. The stemless points are characteristically
triangular and small (D). This type averages 2.2 centimeters
long, with straight bases. Only two straight-sided square-based
points (E), from the village site, are recorded.
These five distinct types can be found repeatedly illustrated in
reports on southeastern and central-eastern archeology. The type
described under (A) was reported by Lewis and Kneberg as
Hamilton stemmed points associated with the Hamilton Focus of
the Middle Valley aspect in eastern Tennessee (Lewis and Kne-
berg, 1946, plate 65C, two points at upper right corner). Points
of the Copena Focus of the Pickwick Basin in Alabama have little
in common with this type, Webb reporting "broad-stemmed
points" corresponding to several Bynum type A specimens from
Lu v 65 only (Webb, 1942, p. 304). Oddly enough, two shell mid-
den mounds of this area, Lu°5 and Lu°67, yielded points closely
matching type A (Webb, 1942, pi. 36-1 and 227-2, No. 10). It
is interesting that Quimby illustrates a type closely corresponding
to A from the Norton Component of the Goodall Focus in Michi-
gan and lists "ovate, corner-notched flint points" of this type from
the Hopewellian components designated Brooks, Sumnerville,
Marantette and Goodall of the Goodall Focus in Michigan and
Indiana (Quimby, 1941, p. 151, and pi. 5). It may be of sig-
nificance that corner-notched points are one of the determinants
of the Woodland Pattern.
Type B, the elongated points with sloping shoulders and taper-
ing or rounded stem, is reported by Jennings for MLe-14, 18, and
90 in the Chickasaw Old Fields of Lee County, Miss., and from
the Miller I Culture sites MLe-53, 56, and 62, all in Lee County,
Miss. (Jennings, 1941, p. 7a and c), and by Coilins for the Deason-
ville site in Yazoo County, Miss. (Collins, 1932, pi. 9, k, m, p,
and q). The presence of type B at sites where cordmarked pottery
is found, notably the Miller Culture sites and Collins' Deasonville
site, may indicate a link with these pottery types in a pre-Chicka-
saw horizon. Webb's types 6, and 8, and 16 in the Pickwick
Basin show likeness in form to type B at Bynum, as cited in the
following Alabama shell middens: CU42, Ct°27, Lu°67, Lu°6i,
Lu°59, and Lu°5. Only one Copena site, Lu v 65, had a com-
parable point (Webb, 1942). In the Wheeler Basin of Alabama,
Webb reported stemmed points of the general type B shape from
one Copena mound La°i4 and many from the Lu°86 and La 16
shell middens and the Lu°85 village site (Webb, 1939). In
Louisiana, type B points are approximated in several of the simple
haft types at the Marksville period Crooks site (Ford and Willey,
1940, pp. 94-100, and figs. 45 and 46). Similar simple haft points
are also reported from Tehefuncte sites (Ford and Quimby, 1945,
pp. 32, 33, and fig. 8).
Type C points with definite side notch are not common, ap-
parently, in the Southeast except in Kentucky shell heaps. A
specimen of this type is illustrated for Hn°i in the Pickwick Basin
of Alabama (Webb, 1942, pi. 10) and for La°i4 in the Wheeler
Basin (Webb, 1939, pi. 52a). Specimens closer to type C at
Bynum are reported for the Deasonville site in Yazoo County,
Miss. (Collins, 1932, pi. 9).
Type D at Bynum (pi. 13, figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, and 9) is typical of
the Chickasaw Old Field sites of Lee County, Miss. This tri-
angular small point is associated with the Chickasaw by Jennings
who states that it is the only form which continued to be made
after strong European contact. Webb reports small triangular
points from the Pickwick Basin sites with Moundville-like com-
ponents, Lu v 92, Hn°i, Lu°2i, Lu°59, and Lu°25.
Type E, the projectile or knife with tapering point and slightly
expanding straight base (pi. 10, fig. 19) from the village sur-
face has some resemblance to the Copena blades illustrated by
Webb for the Lu v 65 and Hn°4 sites (Webb, 1942, pis. 29-1
and 207.
40
Knives at Bynum were exclusively associated with the village
site, one from a pit and two from post molds, the remaining six
from the surface. Complete knives were uniformly leaf-shaped
with squarish to straight bases. The average length was 5.1 centi-
meters (pi. 10, fig. 21). This type of knife is so universal that
site comparisons seem hardly warranted. Although this type is
seldom illustrated in site reports for Mississippi, Alabama, and
Tennessee, it is described for almost all sites of the burial mound
complex and earlier.
Key type drills are represented by only two specimens (pi. 13,
figs. 6, and 7) both from the village surface; hence, these have
little diagnostic value in the absence of association. Key drills
apparently are not common in the Marksville sites of the Lower
Mississippi area. They are, however, reported at Lu°5q and
Lu°25, both shell midden sites, and at Hn°i, a sand mound with
both shell midden and Moundville traits, all in the Pickwick Basin
(Webb, 1942, pis. 10, 93, and 159).
Flaked scrapers, so dominant in a true hunting complex, are
remarkable for their rarity at Bynum. The four elongated side
scrapers on flakes, all from the village site, are undeveloped except
for the simple retouching on one lateral edge and traces of retouch
on the opposite edge (pi. 13, figs. 10 and 11). This type is not
prominent in southeastern sites of the burial mound horizon.
Jennings describes none in his Lee County, Miss., sites. Collins
mentions side scrapers from the Deasonville site but not in quan-
tity. The Marksville period Crooks site in Louisiana yielded
some side scrapers, but these are much wider and more developed
in flaking than those at Bynum (Ford and Willey, 1940, p. 104).
Webb mentions a very few from his Copena sites.
The two end scrapers, one from the fill of mound A (pi. 13,
fig. 15), and the other from the village surface, are on flakes
and show a well-developed "snub-nosed" retouch on the thick
end. This type is rarely noted for burial mound sites throughout
the Southeast, one of the few examples reported being type 4 at
the Crooks site (Ford and Willey, 1940, p. 105).
Ground stone. The 32 polished celts, 29 from mound B, repre-
sent varieties of "greenstone," generally a metamorphic schistose
rock from the piedmont of Alabama or further north. In form
and material these celts are comparable to many finds made in
Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Tennessee. In Mississippi,
Ford reports "smooth ground celts, usually greenstone" from all
of the Big Black River series of sites in Hinds and Madison
Counties, Miss., as well as from Ford's former Deasonville com-
plex (Ford, 1936, pp. 128, 141).
Celts were rarely encountered in Lee County, Miss., by Jen-
nings, who found one apiece at MLe-14, 18, and 90. These sites,
however, were in the historic horizon, and the celts are small and
poor in workmanship. At the Crooks mound in La Salle Parish,
La., seven ground celts, none with burials, were reported (Ford
and Willey, 1940, p. no).
In southern Alabama, two greenstone celts are reported for
the McQuorquodale mound (Wimberley and Tourtelot, 1941, p.
12). In northern Alabama, two greenstone celts were reported
from Ma v io (Webb and Dejarnette, 1948, p. 31). In the Pick-
wick Basin of northern Alabama, Webb reports greenstone celts
among the Copena traits of Lu°5, Lu°2i, Lu°25, Lu°54, Lu v 65, and
Lu v 92. In the same basin in Tennessee, greenstone celts charac-
terized Hn"4 (Webb, 1942, pp. 38, 42, 51, 88, 93, 175, 226). In
the Wheeler Basin in northern Alabama greenstone celts and
Copena traits are reported at La°37 and La"i4 (Webb, 1939, pp.
51, 55). In Tennessee, Lewis and Kneberg report ground green-
stone celts from the Hamilton, Hiwasse Island and Dallas com-
ponents (Lewis and Kneberg, 1946; and personal communication,
1949).
Thus, a significant Copena-Marksville-Deasonville trait is mani-
fested by the greenstone polished celts extending into the Hope-
wellian phase in southern Alabama. At Bynum, this trait is
strongly in evidence, representing the principal ground stone
artifact type. It is interesting to note that a miniature celt of poor
workmanship was found in a rectangular pit overlying the post
mold patterns of Feature 24 and associated with the Chickasaw
burials of historic time. This tiny celt (pi. 7, fig. 4), is also of
greenstone and polished, suggesting that this may represent the
end product of a long tradition of ceremonial polished celts.
A single sandstone celt, partly polished, came from the village
surface.
Aside from the celts, the only other polished stone artifacts are
one red slate fragment, probably of a rectangular pendant, with
a single hole drilled from one side at one end and a fragment of
a hematite chunky stone. Both fragments were found on the
village surface.
Metates, or mortar stones, manos, or hand grinders, and pitted,
or nut stones, constitute the unpolished stone category.
Of the 18 slab mortar fragments, 15 were from the village sur-
face, 1 from mound A surface, 1 from mound B surface, and 1
0.3 foot below the sod line in mound D fill. The fragments in-
dicate that these implements were uniformly small sandstone slabs
4 to 7 inches in diameter. They were not worn deeply, the sur-
face being in most cases only slightly concave. Not only at
Bynum, but at virtually all recorded Burial mound I sites in the
Southeast, slab mortars are shallow, small, and few in number.
There are bare representations at MLe-62, the Miller horizon site,
and the Chickasaw Old Field sites of Lee County, Miss. (Jennings,
1941, pp. 184, 203), at the Tehefuncte site in Louisiana (Ford
and Quimby, 1945, fig. 11), and the McQuorquodale mound in
southern Alabama (Wimberly and Tourtelot, 1941 , p. 14). In
the Dallas and Hamilton focus components of Tennessee, mortars
are "present but rare" (Lewis and Kneberg, 1946, pp. 170, 178).
Webb reports several "lapstones" from the Copena site Lu v 65 in
the Pickwick Basin of Alabama and also from four shell middens
of that area, but it is not certain whether these may be considered
mortars or pitted stones (Webb and Dejarnette, 1942, pp.
304, 312).
Of the 10 small loaf-shaped sandstone hand grinders, 8 were
complete, and all were from the village surface except 1 complete
specimen from 0.4 foot above the central pit floor, Feature 8,
of mound B, lying in basal fill (pi. 7, fig. 5).
Manos as such are rarely mentioned in the literature of south-
eastern sites, although their presence at many burial mound sites
is indicated. Some confusion has arisen from the fact that "ham-
41
merstones" and some small rounded pitted or nut stones fre-
quently have smoothed surfaces that qualify them equally as
hand grinders or manos. Thus, unpitted hammerstones from
the Crooks site, the Lee County, Miss., Miller sites, the McQuor-
quodale mound, the Tchefuncte site, Deasonville site, and
Hamilton and Dallas components of Tennessee may have served
more than one purpose. In every instance, however, their scarcity
indicates that the use of grinding stones was unimportant to the
builders of burial mounds.
Of 12 specimens of pitted stones, flattened, lozenge to loaf-
shaped, with pits on both sides, 9 were complete (pi. 7, figs. 5, 6,
8, 9, 10). The use of these problematical implements, also
termed "nut stones" and occasionally "lapstones" or "pitted ham-
merstones," seems characteristic at the burial mound I sites of the
Southeast, although the use of this form is not restricted to them.
The purpose to which pitted stones were put is problematical.
The multiplicity of possible uses is apparent: Nut crackers, drill
sockets, molds for beating out metal (even the concave copper
spool may have been so fashioned, as pointed out in Squier and
Davis, 1848, p. 206), finger grips, paint mortars, gaming de-
vices — to name a few.
At the Miller I site MLe-62, Lee County, Miss., Jennings re-
ports "numerous smoothly pitted nut stones, pitted and unpitted
hammerstones" (1941, p. 203). Pitted hammerstones are de-
scribed from the Marksville Crooks site (Ford and Willey, p.
no), and "finger grip hammerstones" are listed at Deasonville
(Collins, 1932, p. 20). Certain "lapstones" at the McQuor-
quodale site in southern Alabama may qualify as pitted stones
since they are described as "slabs of hemataceous sandstone pitted
without additional shaping." Some, however, "have been ground
on the edges." A nutting stone is also illustrated. (Wimberly
and Tourtelot, 1941, p. 14.) Pitted stones are reported in the
Pickwick Basin at the Copena site Lu v 65, the sand mound Hn°i
and in several shell middens (Webb, 1942, pp. 304, 312, and pi.
n). For the Tennessee Hamilton component, nut stones are
reported (Lewis and Kneberg, 1946, p. 118).
RAW MATERIALS
The material used for flaked implement making may be desig-
nated flint according to the broad usage of the term. Specifically
the flaked artifacts represent a variety of gray, tan, brown, and
red cherts, chalcedonys, and some jaspers. Only significant differ-
ences will be noted here.
The materials used for the 19 spear points of Feature 8, Mound
B, were dark-gray chert except for three specimens of light-gray
and mottled chalcedony. The chalcedony suggests Flint Ridge,
Ohio; the dark-gray chert is comparable to a material familiar in
the Tennessee River basins.
Materials of flaked artifacts at the village site are markedly
different, being chiefly reddish-brown cherts and a few jaspers.
Most of these materials are recognizable in local chert pebbles
from cretaceous gravels.
Sandstones used for the pitted stones, slab mortars, and manos
are local and show a characteristically heavy iron content. Green-
stone has been described under "celts" above.
CONCLUSIONS
Lithic forms associated with the central features of mounds B
and D are unlike the lithic implements of the village site. Mate-
rials of these respective forms are likewise different, those of
mound artifacts having come from northern Alabama or Ten-
nessee and those of the village site being predominantly local.
The forms of flaked points of feature 8, mound B, are not charac-
teristically Copena but correspond to corner-notched and expand-
ing-stemmed points which are associated with Hopewellian com-
ponents and the lithic determinants of the Woodland pattern
further north. However, the presence of clustered points in sub-
floor burial pits is a Copena trait, likewise the greenstone celts of
mounds B and D.
Celts from the mounds, flaked stone artifacts and ground stone
metates, manos, and pitted stones from the village site tend defi-
nitely to correspond to like types of Marksville Deasonville-
Copena sites. Similarities in lithic artifacts from cord and fabric-
marked pottery sites in foci of the Hopewellian phase are im-
pressive. The lithic correspondence between prehistoric Bynum
and the McQuorquodale mound site of southern Alabama are
marked (as well as mound structure and copper spool aspects).
It is noteworthy that both sites are on the drainage of the Tombig-
bee River. Linkage of trade and influence from the Great Lakes
to the Mississippi Delta as further indicated by lithic compari-
sons was probably oriented along the complex of trails which ulti-
mately became associated with the Natchez Trace route.
42
Specialists Reports
SKELETAL MATERIAL
by Dr. Marshall T. Newman, Division of Physical Anthropology, United States National Museum
Skeletal material from the Bynum excavations was submitted
to Dr. Marshall T. Newman of the National Museum. We are
indebted to Dr. Newman for the following analysis and discus-
sion of this material, published by permission of the Secretary
of the Smithsonian Institution.
The largely fragmentary skeletal remains from 27 excavated
graves at the Bynum site form the basis of this report. Frag-
mentary as most of them are, they provide the first impres-
sions — viewed through time — of the aboriginal populations of
Mississippi. The only other published researches on the physical
anthropology of the Indians from this State are Hrdlicka's pub-
lished measurements on 56 skulls (Hrdlicka 1940, pp. 407-416),
of which 38 came from archeologically undocumented graves
"near Vicksburg"; and Collins' (1925, 1928) measurements on
130 living and racially mixed Choctaw from near Philadelphia,
Miss. Hrdlicka's data for Mississippi and adjacent states in-
dicate a round-headed Indian population in which head defor-
mation was common, often in pronounced form. The time dur-
ing which this population occupied the area is not stated, but it
is likely that the bulk of the skulls came from the later (Temple
mound I or II) sites. In the present study, those skulls of
Hrdlicka's series from sites of cultures known to the authors have
been reexamined and these findings are incorporated with the
discussion of the Bynum series. (See p. 45.)
METHODS
The assessment of sex was made, where possible, from the en-
tire skeleton, especially the skull and pelvis. In a number of in-
stances, sex could only be hazarded, because of the very fragmen-
tary nature of the specimens in question. The racial type was
determined by observation, using comparable types from else-
where in the Southeast as a guide. Neither Hrdlicka's nor Neu-
mann's type names are wholly satisfactory, but they are used here
in preference to devising new ones. Hrdlicka used the terms
"Algonkin" and "Gulf," respectively, for the long-headed and
round-headed peoples in the eastern United States. Neumann's
terms for essentially these same types are "Silvid" and "Centralid"
(Neumann, 194 1). Cranial deformation was assessed according
to the types defined by Neumann (1941).
The cranial measurements and indices listed in table 25 and
the observations mentioned in the text were taken according to
techniques previously outlined (Newman, 1947, appendixes A
and B). Long bone lengths were measured in standard fashion
on an osteometric board. Tibial length excludes the spine. Mid-
shaft circumferences were taken with a cloth tape. In assessing
tooth wear, the following scale was used:
First degree — slight enamel wear.
Second degree — dentine visible.
Third degree — all enamel worn off surface.
Fourth degree — pulp cavities exposed.
MATERIALS
The following is an inventory of the skeletal material by burial
number:
Floor of mound A
No. 1. Very fragmentary but partially restorable skull; fragmentary bones
of the upper limb; fragmentary ribs; atlas. Middle-aged female.
No. 2. Over 12 small calcined fragments of skull vault; one cap of a
permanent molar. Dr. T. D. Stewart pointed out that these tooth caps,
especially those showing wear and therefore fully erupted, are the result of
post-mortem decay of the roots and other tooth surfaces not covered with
enamel.
No. 3. Small, heavily calcined vault fragments; cap of a permanent molar.
No. 4. Small, calcined fragments of skull; several teeth, one of which
is the cap of a permanent molar.
Floor of mound B
No. 5. Fragments of parietals and occiput. Rugged adult male.
No. 6. Numerous calcined bone fragments, of which those recognizably
human arc the right zygomatic process of the temporal, the body of a
cervical vertebra, and six vault fragments.
These bones were sent to the Division for examination in 1947. In re-
porting upon them, Dr. T. D. Stewart stated that judging by the consolidated
bony fragments under highly baked clay, the bones were first covered by
clay and then fires built on the latter. Also indicative of this is the fact
that only several fragments of bone appear to have been in direct contact
with the fire.
No. 7. Heavily calcined mass of bone fragments, recognizable as human
only by several vault fragments.
No. 9. Over 12 calcined bone fragments, with one identifiably human
piece of occiput.
No. in. Calcined fragments of long bones, not recognizably human, but
probably so.
No. 28. Heavily calcined and shattered bone fragments not recognizable
as human, but probably so.
No. 29. About 24 very small calcined bone fragments, recognizable as
human only by a small portion of mandible.
891131 O— 51-
43
Prehistoric village site (no artifacts were found in association with these
burials, so their cultural position is uncertain. Since only cultural
materials pertaining to Burial Mound 1 and to the 1820-30 Chickasaw
reoccupation are present at the Bynum site, it is assumed here that these
burials pertain to the former. They could be earlier or later than the
construction of the mounds)
No. 8. Part of occipital and other skull fragments; two thoracic and one
lumbar vertebrae. Middle-aged adult, sex indeterminable.
No. 11. Very fragmentary but partially restorable skull and most of the
long bones. Subadult female.
No. 12. Small fragments of skull vault thick enough to represent an
adult individual, along with the caps of 10 permanent teeth.
No. 14. Small fragments of a skull and two caps of permanent teeth.
Adult male.
No. 15. Small skull fragments and eroded shaft sections of humerus and
femur.
No. 16. Fragmentary but partially restorable skull; part of mandible; most
of long bones. Young adult male.
No. 21. Posterior part of skull; mandible; two vertebrae; and acromial
process of a scapula. Probably adult female.
No. 23. Right half of skull; mandible; most skeletal parts except vertebral
column. Middle-aged male. (See pi. 19.)
No. 24. Most skeletal parts (skull missing). Female over 25 years of
pge, on basis of fusion of sternal epiphyses of clavicle.
No. 26. Fragmentary skull and most skeletal parts. Child about 6
years old.
Historic Chickasaw reoccupation {1820-30)
No. 17. Fragmentary skull; mandible; and long bones. Child about 6 years
old.
No. 18. Intact skull; mandible; and most skeletal parts. Middle-aged to
old male. (See pi. 19.)
No. 19. Intact skull; mandible; and an almost complete skeleton. Young
adult female. (See pi. 20.)
No. 20. Fragmentary but partially restorable skull; mandible; and most
skeletal parts. Adult female.
No. 22. Fragmentary skull; mandible; and most skeletal parts, except
thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. Middle-aged adult, probably male.
No. 25. Skull fragments and skeletal parts. Child 2 or 3 years old.
DESCRIPTION
Only the skeletal material from 13 burials is sufficiently intact
to merit detailed description. Measurements of these specimens
are given in tables 25 and 26, and descriptions of them follow.
FLOOR OF MOUND A
Burial No. 1 {middle-aged female). This fragmentary skull
appears to be of the Centralid (or Gulf) type, and shows fronto-
vertico-occipital deformation of a pronounced degree. The frontal
pressure extended down almost to the nasofrontal suture, radi-
cally reducing the form and size of the brow ridges, thoroughly
flattening the glabellar region, and eliminating any nasion de-
pression. Other morphological features which were affected by
the deformation are the pronounced parietal bosses, medium
temporal fullness and a small-sized mound-type occipital torus.
The remaining observable characters, probably uninfluenced by
the deformation, are: Shallow glenoid fossae, oval auditory
meatus, medium tympanic plates, and shallow inframaxillary
notches. Of the teeth, none were lost before death, although nine
were lost post mortem. Tooth wear is third degree, one of the
remaining teeth is carious, but no abscesses are present.
PREHISTORIC VILLAGE SITE
Burial No. 8 (adult, sex indeterminable). The narrow, bi-
laterally "pinched" occiput suggests the Silvid (or Algonkin)
physical type, although the fragmentary nature of the remains pre-
cludes categorical assessment. There is a small mid-line flattened
area on the occiput, but not enough to denote artificial deforma-
tion with any certainty.
Burial No. 11 (subadult female). The partially restorable
calva of this specimen is sufficiently intact to permit a type assess-
ment of Silvid. No deformation is apparent. Observable mor-
phological features of note are: Small, divided-type brow ridges;
small glabella, medium forehead height and slope; slight postor-
bital constriction; small frontal bosses; very slight nasion depres-
sion; medio-bilateral chin form; slight chin projection; and me-
dium gonial flare. No teeth were lost during life, but eight are
missing post mortem. Of the remaining teeth, no caries or apical
abscesses are apparent, and tooth wear is of first degree. Of spe-
cial note is a tripartite Inca bone, with osteoporotic pitting.
Burial No. 16 (young adult male). The skull is definitely
Silvid, with an approximate length-breadth index of 70-71.
Whereas there is a small flattened area on the occiput, it must be
classed as, at the most, very slight deformation. Application of
Pearson's formula e to the left femoral and tibial lengths indicates
an approximate stature of 167 centimeters. Morphological fea-
tures of interest are: Small, divided-type brow ridges; low fore-
head of pronounced slope and small frontal bosses; medium tem-
poral fullness; medium occipital curve and form; small, mound-
type occipital torus, and shallow suborbital fossae. Of the teeth,
none were lost before death, nine afterward. The remaining
teeth show only one case of caries, no abscesses, and second-degree
wear. Of pathological interest are the shallow and eroded
glenoid fossae, slight lipping of the lumbar vertebrae, and a well-
healed fracture of the distal articular surface of the right tibia.
The first two pathological processes may be of an arthritic nature.
Burial No. 21 (middle-aged adult, probably female). The par-
tial skull has a round-headed appearance, and may be either a
Centralid type or may represent the more brachycephalic end of
the Silvid range. Skulls similar to this one occasionally turned
up in early, sometimes pre-pottery strata, in the Tennessee Valley
excavations in northern Alabama, and presented problems which
our techniques of morphological typing were insufficiently sen-
sitive to solve. The skull of burial No. 21 shows a slight degree
of symmetrical occipital flattening. There is a definite flattened
area on the occiput just below lambda. Morphological features
worth noting are: Small mastoid processes, and a small mound-
form occipital torus; medium temporal fullness, sphenoid depres-
sion, and occipital curve; high position of lambda; broad occiput
(as viewed from norma verticalis); medio-bilateral chin form,
with medium chin projection and alveolar prognathism; and
44
lateral and inferior thicknings of the body of the mandible, mak-
ing for a "rocker-type" lower jaw. Only one tooth was lost dur-
ing life, and wear is extreme (fourth degree). Exposure of the
pulp cavities of four teeth caused caries and extensive apical
abscesses. In one case, an apical abscess had penetrated the
maxillary sinus.
Burial No. 23 {middle-aged adult male). The skeleton rep-
resents a short (about 160.4 centimeters) gracile individual of
Silvid type. Cranial deformation is definitely absent. Of the
more noteworthy cranial observations are the following: Ovoid
skull form; small divided type brow ridges; small glabella, frontal
and parietal bosses; medium median frontal crest and sagittal
elevation; flat temporals; large mastoid processes and medium
occipital torus of mound type; rhomboid-type orbits of medium in-
clination; medium suborbital fossae with no inframaxillary notch;
pronounced anterior and medium lateral malar projection; slight
nasal depression; concave nasal profile; dull nasal sills; medium
total, midfacial and alveolar prognathism; hyperbolic palate of
medium height and a medium mound-type palatine torus; wide
bilateral chin form, with chin projection neutral; pronounced ever-
sion of gonial angles and shovel-shaped upper central incisors.
No teeth were lost during life, and only one is missing post
mortem. Wear is second degree, one tooth is carious, and two
abscesses are present. Bite is edge to edge.
Burial No. 24 {adult female over 25 years of age). Physical
type cannot be determined, due to the very fragmentary nature of
the skull. The application of stature reconstruction formulae to
the long bones indicates an approximate stature of about 154.5
centimeters.
Burial No. 26 {child about 6 years of age). Physical type
cannot be determined. The absence of any flattening on the
occiput probably places this specimen in the undeformed category.
HISTORIC CHICKASAW REOCCUPATION (1820-30)
Burial No. iy {child about 6 years of age). — Physical type can-
not be determined. There is a suggestion of cranial deformation
on a piece of occipital bone.
Burial No. 18 {middle-age to old male). — The skull is def-
initely of Centralid type, with a length-breadth index of 79.8.
It also shows lambdoid deformation of a slight degree, which
could very well be natural rather than artificial. This slight
amount of deformation probably had no effect on the cranial
diameters. Stature was approximately 178.5 centimeters. The
more interesting of the cranial observations are: Sphenoid skull
form; medium divided type brow ridges; medium glabella and
frontal bosses; low forehead height and medium forehead slope;
pronounced postorbital constriction; no median frontal crest but
a large sagittal elevation; medium to pronounced temporal full-
ness; large mastoid processes and a large mound-form occipital
torus; pronounced occipital curve and a low position of lambda;
rhomboid-shaped orbits of medium inclination; medium sub-
orbital fossae with deep inframaxillary notches; pronounced an-
terior and lateral malar projection; small nasion depression with
a high nasal angle; slightly concavo-convex nasal profile; large
nasal spine; medium total and midfacial prognathism but pro-
nounced alveolar prognathism of both maxilla and mandible;
medio-bilateral chin form with neutral projection; pronounced
eversion of gonial angles, and medium shovel-shaped upper cen-
tral incisors. Of the dentition, nine teeth were lost during life,
with only two missing post mortem. The antemortem loss was
such that in life this individual had only one set of opposing
molars. Of the remaining teeth, nine are heavily decayed, and
two of these gave rise to small apical abscesses. Only stubby shells
of the root structure of the left Pm 1 and right Pm 2 were left.
The lower right Pm 2 and M 2 show large gaping cavities. Tooth
wear is second degree and there is a slight overbite. Of path-
ological interest is a well-healed fracture near the tip of the nasal
bones.
Burial No. jg {young adult female). This skeleton represents
a short (154.6 centimeters), light-boned female of Centralid type,
with a length-breadth index of 81.6. A slight amount of lamb-
doid deformation is present, but is more likely natural than arti-
ficial. Cranial observations of note are: Sphenoid head form,
with a pinched occiput and low lambda position; small divided-
type brow ridges; small glabella with a very slight nasal depres-
sion below; medium forehead height and slope; no median
frontal crest; a medium sagittal elevation; medium frontal and
pariltal bosses; medium temporal fullness and mastoid processes;
medium mound-form occipital torus; square orbits of medium in-
clination; medium suborbital fossae with small inframaxillary
notches; pronounced total, midfacial and alveolar prognathism;
U-shaped palate with a constriction in the premolar region; me-
dian chin form with negative (receding) chin projection. Two
teeth were lost during life; none after death. Eleven teeth were
heavily attacked by caries, with five reduced to the shells of
root stumps, which led in each case to prominent apical abscesses.
Tooth wear is first degree, and there is a slight overbite.
Burial No. 20 {middle-aged adult female). The skull is of
Silvid type, with a tentative length-breadth index of 74.7. Ap-
proximate stature was 15 1.5 centimeters. Cranial deformation is
definitely absent. Morphological features of particular interest
are: Ovoid skull form; small mastoid processes; pronounced occipi-
tal curve; high lambda position; medium occipital form; small
mound-form occipital torus; median chin form; pronounced
alveolar prognathism of mandible; medium eversion of gonial
angles. Two teeth were lost during life; two more post mortem.
Two of the remaining teeth aie carious, and one large apical
abscess is present. Tooth wear is first degree.
Burial No. 22 {middle-aged adult male {?)). The skull is too
fragmentary to permit type assessment. Stature was approxi-
mately 161. 5 centimeters. Slight deformation on the right side
of the occiput just above the supreme nuchal line is detectable
from a warped fragment. Observational features of note on the
skull are: Slight temporal fullness; large mastoid processes; me-
dium mound-form occipital torus; shallow suborbital fossae;
medium inframaxillary notch; slightly concavo-convex nasal pro-
file; high nasal angle; pronounced alveolar prognathism of maxil-
lar and mandible; parabolic palate; medio-bilateral chin form, with
45
neutral chin projection; pronounced eversion of gonial angles.
No teeth were lost ante or post mortem. Six teeth are carious,
but no apical abscesses resulted. Tooth wear is first degree. Bite
is edge to edge.
DISCUSSION
PHYSICAL TYPE
Morphological typing of nine of the previously discussed skulls
give the following listing by archaeological provenience:
Floor of mound A: One Centralid (No. i).
Prehistoric village site: Four Silvids (Nos. 8, n, 16, 23), one
indeterminate (No. 21).
Historic Chickasaw: Two Centralids (Nos. 18, 19), one Sil-
vid (No. 20).
The evidence from the floor of mound A, scanty as it is, sug-
gests the presence of the Centralid physical type in northeastern
Mississippi in burial mound I times. This is as early in the
cultural sequence of the eastern United States as this round-
headed physical type has been reported. The most conclusive
evidence of the presence of Centralids in Burial Mound I times
comes from the Adena sites of Kentucky and adjacent areas
(Webb and Snow, 1945, esp., pp. 247-263), whereas the earlier
inhabitants of the Southeast, assigned to the prepottery Archaic
period, were largely a small-sized variant of the Silvid physical
type.
Nine other fragmentary skulls from Mississippi — possibly from
the same Burial Mound I cultural level as the Bynum site — came
from near Crandall, Clarke County (U. S. N. M. 331,046-054).
The very incomplete nature of all these skulls precludes definite
assessments. U. S. N. M. 331,047, -048, and -049 all present a
broadish-headed appearance, and may represent the Centralid
physical type. U. S. N. M. 331,046, -053, and -054 give a
longer-headed impression, although the first-named has a length-
breadth index of 80.7, and the last is represented only by an
occiput which has the "pinched" appearance typical of Silvids.
The long-headed Silvid skulls from the prehistoric village site
contrast strongly with the lone Centralid buried in the floor of
mound A, and may indicate a physical difference between the
builders of the Bynum mound and the people who buried with-
out artifacts in the village site. The scant data that can be de-
rived from five fragmentary skulls preclude any more definite
statement, and the existence of two physically different popula-
tions at Bynum remains only a possibility. Judging by the physi-
cal sequences outside Mississippi (Newman and Snow, ms.), the
Bynum Silvids could, with equal facility, be considered earlier
or later than the building of the mounds there. Or they could
represent a serf group who were used by the moundbuilders of
higher culture.
In the historic Chickasaw burials, the presence of the round-
headed Centralids is what one would expect. The one Silvid
Skull (No. 20) should occasion no surprise since, to the writer's
knowledge, a minority of this physical type showed up in historic
burials from Guntersville Basin, northern Alabama.
Other Mississippi skulls from the National Museum collections
which can be assigned with good probability to the two Temple
mound periods all appear to be Centralid. Notes on their physi-
cal type and deformation follow:
Temple mound I
U. S. N. M. 349, 933 — from the Woodbine mound, Yazoo County; pre-
sumably prehistoric Tunica, and possibly Temple mound I in period.
Only the face, frontal and temporals are present, and a confident assessment
of type is therefore impossible. The face looks Centralid rather than
Silvid. The frontal shows a definite transverse "band" of deformation.
Temple mound I or II
U. S. N. M. 263, 405-406 — from Shadyside Landing, Washington County;
shell-tempered pottery and effigy pipes reported from the site, which is
more likely Temple mound II than I. Both skulls are definitely Centralid,
and both show heavy fronto-vertico-occipital deformation.
Temple mound II
U. S. N. M. 326, 505—525 — from near Natchez, Jefferson County; probably
late and usually assumed to be Natchez. Of 1 1 skulls sufficiently intact
for assessment, all show Centralid physical traits, and all have fronto-
vertico-occipital deformation, mostly pronounced in degree.
U. S. N. M. 263, 403-404, 407 — from Commerce, Tunica County; red
and white painted pottery, which used to be called Caddo, came from this
site. No. 263, 403 is a definite Centralid, and shows pronounced fronto-
parallelo-occipital deformation. No. 263, 404 is also Centralid in type,
with pronounced fronto-vertico-occipital deformation.
U. S. N. M. 331, 044—045 — from the Hiwaunee mound, Wayne County;
this mound was the mythical place of origin of the Choctaw and hence
is to be identified with that tribe as a late site. The two restored skulls
look Centralid, but have rather "pinched" occiputs. Both show fronto-
occipital deformation of a medium degree.
U. S. N. M. 377, 995 — from near Tupelo, Lee County; the presence of
white and yellow beads mark this burial as historic; the location makes
it historic Chickasaw, with little doubt. The physical type of this speci-
men is Centralid, with a length-breadth index of 78.18. Only a trace
of occipital deformation is present. The skull is very similar in appear-
ance to that of burial No. 19, except for greater prognathism in the
latter. (See pi. 20.)
CRANIAL DEFORMATION
The skull of burial No. 1 from the floor mound A shows pro-
nounced fronto-vertico-occipital deformation. Whether this form
of deformation was the norm for the builders of the Bynum
mound is impossible to say. Nine fragmentary skulls from the
Crandall mound of the same period do not give the impression
of heavy deformation, although seven of them show frontal flat-
tening and the remaining two lack frontal bosses. All five occi-
puts show some flattening — two slight, two medium and one pro-
nounced. U. S. N. M. 331,046 and -049 show medium fronto-
vertico-occipital deformation, while 331,047 shows this type in
pronounced form. No. 331,048 shows bifrontal flattening.
The six prehistoric village site skulls can properly be classed
as undeformed, with the closest approach to appreciable deforma-
tion to be seen in burial No. 21. This lack of deformation, how-
ever, cannot be used as a time indicator, because both the Archaic
period and the Burial Mound I and II Silvids from northern Ala-
bama were almost wholly undeformed.
The five historic Chickasaw skulls show no deformation really
worthy of the name, and may be considered undeformed. As
46
such they are in distinct contrast to most of the Temple mound
skulls from Mississippi briefly noted on p. 45. Taken as a
group, these skulls show as high a frequency and intensity of
fronto-occipital deformation as the writer has seen in the
Southeast.
So sometime within the historic period it seems likely that
heavy cranial deformation passed out of style, for the Chickasaw
at least. More probably this abandoning of a custom in vogue
since Burial Mound I times did not occur before the early 19th
century, when the native cultures in the Southeast were disinte-
grating rapidly.
DENTAL PATHOLOGY
A contrast in the amount of tooth wear and caries is presented
by the prehistoric village site and the historic Chickasaw denti-
tions. Age for age, tooth wear was about one degree more severe
among the prehistoric village site skulls, and caries about one-
fifth as common. The considerable dental wear of this sample
is almost as great as that seen in the early northern Alabama Sil-
vids (Newman and Snow, ms.), where it was attributed to a
heavy diet of gritty fare such as shellfish. While I do not care
to venture too far into sheer speculation, I suggest that the food
economy of the prehistoric village site people may have been very
similar to that found among the Lauderdale focus Indians in
northern Alabama (Webb and Dejarnette, 1942).
As for the very striking difference in incidence of caries between
the prehistoric and historic groups in question, two factors serve
as an explanation. First, a valid operating principle, up to a
point, is the more wear, the less the caries (Newman and Snow,
1942, pp. 469-470). Given more wear among the prehistoric
group, fewer caries would be a logical prediction. Second, the
very carious dentitions of the historic Chickasaw specimens are
probably a reflection of a dietary change for the worse brought
about by cultural disintegration and encroachment of the Whites.
SUMMARY
This report is based upon the largely fragmentary skeletal re-
mains from 27 burials at the Bynum site, 28 archeologically docu-
mented skulls in the National Museum collections from elsewhere
in Mississippi, and the scanty literature on the physical anthro-
pology of the aborigines of that State.
The one skull from the floor of mound A which is sufficiently
intact to permit morphological typing probably represents a
Centralid female, with pronounced fronto-vertical-occipital defor-
mation. Nine other fragmentary skulls from an apparently sim-
ilar Burial Mound I site in Clarke County show physical traits
suggestive, for the most part, of the Centralid type. In addition,
they all show some signs of cranial deformation, although pro-
nounced in only one case.
Four skulls from the artifactless village site burials represent the
Silvid physical type, and show practicallv no cranial deformation.
In addition, this group appears to be small and gracile in body
build. They are characterized by considerable tooth wear, prob-
ably resulting from a gritty (shellfish?) diet, and show very little
dental caries. Their chronological position at the Bynum site is
uncertain. Since their burials lack trade goods, they are assumed
to be contemporaneous with the builders of the Bynum mounds,
and hence Burial Mound I in time. That the previously men-
tioned mound floor skull represents a Centralid, and the four
prehistoric village site skulls are Silvid in type suggests that two
Indian physical types were present at Bynum. If there was such
a distinction in physical type between the builders of the mounds
and those who buried in the village site, were these peoples con-
temporaneous at Bynum, or which of them were earlier? Unfor-
tunately the lack of cultural data for the prehistoric village site
burials precludes a definite answer. The fact that elsewhere in
the Southeast, Silvids were the prior population cannot be used
to assign these village site burials to the pre-Bynum mounds time,
because in northern Alabama at least, the Silvids were still there
in Burial Mound II times.
The three historic Chickasaw skeletons which can be morpho-
logically typed show two Centralids and one Silvid. No defor-
mation worthy of the name is apparent. Dental wear is quite
slight, and caries are severe. Perhaps the severity of the dental
caries is to be expected, considering the altered food habits of a
remnant Indian group. The presence of Silvids among historic
Muskogean-speakers has been noted before in northern Alabama,
and may be due to increased movement and mingling of the tribes.
In addition, the essentially mesocephalic position of the two Cen-
tralids accords with Hrdlicka's view (1922, pp. 113-114) that
the Seminoles, Creeks, Chickasaws, and others were more meso-
cephalic, while the Choctaws, Natchez, Alabamas, and closely re-
lated tribes were more round headed.
47
VEGETABLE MATERIAL
by Volney H. Jones {University of Michigan)
Samples of vegetal material, mostly charred, from the Bynum
site were submitted to Mr. Volney H. Jones, Curator of Ethnology,
Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan, for identifi-
cation. We are indebted to Mr. Jones for the following data
listed according to provenience at the site.
MOUND B
Feature 8. Central subfloor pit (specifically the burned detritus pocket
beneath the west rim of feature 8, designated feature 10).
Honey locust seeds, Gleditsia triacanthos, 46 specimens, mostly frag-
mentary, charred.
Common cane, Arundinaria sp. (probably Arundinaria gigantea, a quan-
tity of fragments, charred. Hickory nut, Carya sp., six fragments
of shells, charred.
Acorns, Quercus sp., 2 specimens, charred.
Charcoal, probably from oak.
Charcoal, probably honey locust Gleditsia triacanthos, 1.4 feet above
floor in fill.
Feature 9. Pinus sp. fragments, charred.
VILLAGE SITE
Feature 19. From plow line to one foot below, in post mold. Maypop
or Passion Flower, Passiflora incarnata, a quantity of seeds.
Feature iy, pit level HI. Charcoal, Pinus sp. indicated in fragments.
Feature 27, fire pit. Charcoal, Hickory, Carya sp. and sweetgum, Liq-
uidambar styracifiua indicated.
Burials 24 and 26.
Cane, Arundinaria gigantea indicated, charred fragments.
Hickory units, Carya sp., a large quantity of shell fragments, charred.
SUMMARIES
Honey locust beans. These were found in five of the lots
(3570C, 3574, 3575C, 3576D, and 3579D), all from the central
pit (features 8 and 10) of mound B totaling about 46 seeds. At
first glance these bear some resemblance to garden beans, so were
checked very carefully. They compare very closely in every re-
spect with seeds of the honey locust gathered at Ann Arbor.
There is no doubt that these are seeds of honey locust. They have
a terminal hylum and point of attachment, whereas the garden
bean has a lateral hylum and point of attachment. There are
several other features of distinction.
The large, flat pods of the honey locust have a saccharine
material in some quantity in between the seeds. This material
was gathered and eaten by Indians. Honey locust pods and seeds
have been noted in material from the Ozark bluff dwellings and
Kentucky bluff shelters. The seeds of honey locust in the Bynum
mound doubtless represent discarded material from food supplies.
Cane. Charred cane occurred in five lots (3564B, 3570B,
3575B, 3567B, 3579A), one from burial 24, and four from mound
B, feature 8 and 10 pit, but not in large quantity in any lot.
There are two species of cane, Arundinaria gigantea and
Arundinaria tecta. The stems of these can be distinguished only
by the larger size of the former. In this material the pieces are
so broken that the diameters of the stems from which they come
cannot be determined.
Cane was used by Indians for making mats and baskets and
in construction. In more recent times, at least, it has become
a prominent material for fish poles. There is no processing evi-
dent on the material from the site to indicate its purpose.
Lot. No. 3577 may represent impressions of cane leaves, but
the identification is not very certain.
Hic\ory nuts. Hickory-nut shells occurred in seven of the
lots (3564A, 3565, 3568, 3570A, 3576C, 3578, 3579F), four from
burial 24 and 26 pit, three from mound B, features 8 and 10 pit,
totaling a considerable quantity. Most of these shells were frag-
mentary, but in some instances the nuts were almost whole.
Hickory nuts were widely used by Indians as food and are
quite common in Eastern archaeological sites. Various species
were used. Without check material from the immediate area,
we hesitate to attempt specific identification of the species from
the site, and place them only to genus.
In the Southeast the nuts were often prepared by cracking them
in mortars, placing the cracked nuts in hot water to extract the
oil, and skimming off the oil for use. The shells in lot 3565 are
so finely and uniformly cracked that the nuts may have been pre-
pared in this manner.
Charcoal. Charcoal occurs in several of the lots, but usually in
rather small pieces. In some instances it was possible to suggest
possible identifications of the wood, but too much confidence
should not be placed in these.
Seeds of passion flower. The seeds of the mappop or passion
flower in one lot (3573), feature 10 post mold, are of particular
interest. These are almost certainly of the passion flower, and
represent the first occurrence of evidence of this plant in an
archaeological site of which we have heard.
The plant grows wild throughout much of the Southeast, and
is reported to have been eaten by the Indians. Some early ac-
counts suggest that it may possibly have been cultivated by some
tribes. The European clergy were interested in the plant, because
some of the floral structures suggest the cross and crown of thorns
of the crucifixion, hence the name "passion flower."
The only seeds which we had for comparison were from
cultivated fruits bought some years ago in the Ann Arbor market.
We have confidence in the identification as the similarity was
very close. Comparison should be made with seeds from wild
plants.
48
Acorns. Shelled acorns were found in two lots (3576E, 3579C),
both from mound B, feature 8 and 10 pit. Acorn meats have
been frequently noted in archaeological sites in the Southeast.
There are some early accounts of processing of acorns for food in
that area. We suspect that they were a rather common food in
the region, more so than commonly considered.
REMARKS
The frequency of wild food materials and the apparent com-
plete absence of cultivated plants such as corn, beans, and pump-
kins seems noteworthy. This may be due to accidents of pres-
ervation, but account should be taken of it in considerations of
the site.
ANIMAL BONES
by Dr. Henry W. Setzer (United States National Museum)
Following is the analysis of the animal refuse bone material
from the Bynum site which has been presented through the
courtesy of Dr. Henry W. Setzer, Associate Curator, Division of
Mammals, United States National Museum, Washington, D. C.
Numerous fragments of bone sent to Dr. Setzer were too small
or fragmentary to be identified, but the following list gives those
which could be identified, along with their provenience.
Mound A
West border, 0.3 foot below sod — Bison {Bison bison), 1 tooth, 9 frag-
ments.
East border, 5 feet east of tomb log — 1 beaver tooth (Castor
canadensis).
Village Site
Deer (Odocoileus virginianus).
Raccoon (Procyon lotor).
Domestic cat {Felix catus).
Feature iy
Deer.
Feature 19, post mold
Deer.
Feature 23
Deer.
Bobcat (lynx rufus).
Raccoon.
Opossum (Didelphis virginianus).
Feature 26
Deer.
Fox (Urocyon).
Refuse Pit with Burials 24-26
Deer.
The animal bones recovered from the excavations at the Bynum Mounds
do not indicate any unusual species or form which would not normally be
expected in the area. The remains of the cat (Felix catus) found only
0.2 foot below the sod are doubtless a recent introduction to the site well
within historic times.
Deer was the most common game animal, but presumably there were
other smaller animals not represented in the remains above. Possibly,
adverse preservative conditions eliminated small bone traces. No bird
bones were reported, but a few fragmentary fish remains were recovered.
Unusual is the fact that no signs of worked bone whatsoever were re-
covered. Why some refuse bone material should be found, but no evidence
of worked bone, is inexplicable.
The presence of fox remains in the Bynum site raises the old question
of red o rgray! It has long been held that only gray fox (Urocyon) would
be found in sites dating prior to 1650. It is significant that few if any
authenticated red fox remains have been recovered in the middle eastern
United States from Indian sites. It is true that the red fox (Vulpes)
occurred, natively, in the northern part of North America in pre-Columbian
times. This fox is, though, an inhabitant of the Boreal Life Zone and thus
would not normally be expected to occur in the Austral Zone which covers
most of the middle eastern states. It would be well, however, from sites
excavated in the future in this regio.i, to submit bone material suspected
of being fox to competent authorities for determination. Because of the
lack of diagnostic skeletal elements, it can be deduced that the fox found
in the Bynum Site is the gray.
49
SHELL MATERIAL
by Dr. J. P. E. Morrison (United States National Museum)
The following analysis of shell material recovered from
mounds and village features, village burials, and general explora-
tory excavations at Bynum is supplied through the courtesy of
Joseph P. E. Morrison, Associate Curator, Division of Mollusks,
United States National Museum, Washington. D. C.
Mollusks used as food: Campeloma lewisii (Walker), Viviparus contec-
toides (W. G. Binney), Fusconaia negata (Lea), Amblema costata latecostata
(Lea), Elliptio crassidens (Lamarck), Obovaria unicolor (Lea), Carunculina
germana (Lea)?, Lampsilis stramineus (Conrad).
Mollusks used for other than food purposes: Busycon contrarmm (Con-
rad) traded from the Gulf coast, found on the pit floor of feature 8,
Pleurocera obovata (Say) bead traded from Kentucky, Tennessee, or north-
ern Alabama, Elliptio crassidens (Lamarck), pierced, possibly used as hoes.
Fossil Mollusks from Upper Cretaceous rocks, probably taken from out-
crop of fossil deposit on Houlka Creek, half a mile southwest of Bynum:
Gryphaea (Pycnodonta) vesicularis (Lamarck), Exogyra costata (Say),
Ostrea species.
PROVENIENCE OF MOLLUSKS IN SITE
Mound B
Two fragments of Busycon contrarium (Conrad) located on pit floor of
feature 8, mound B. These specimens establish fact of trade with Gulf
Coast.
Village site
Feature 23 {refuse pit). Plow line to 0.3 foot below: Campeloma lewisii
(Walker), 42 specimens; Viviparus contectoides (W. G. Binney), 4 speci-
mens: Fusconaia negata (Lea), 5 specimens; Elliptio crassidens (Lamarck),
2 specimens; Lampsilis stramineus (Conrad), 2 specimens.
Feature 24. 0.3 foot below plow line in post mold: Exogyra costata
(Say), 1 specimen. (Suggests possible use in digging post hole.)
Burial 18. 0.2 foot below plow line: Amblema costata latecostata (Lea),
1 specimen.
Burial 23. Plow line to 0.4 foot below: Campeloma lewisii (Walker),
106 specimens; Viviparus contectoides (W. G. Binney), 15 specimens; Fus-
conaia negata (Lea), 1 specimen; Carunculina germana (Lea)?, 1 specimen;
Lampsilis stramineus (Conrad), 4 specimens.
Burial 24, Burial 26. 0.1 to 0.6 foot below plow line: Campeloma lewisii
(Walker), 234 specimens; Viviparus contectoides (W. G. Binney), 25 speci-
mens; Fusconaia negata (Lea), 29 specimens; Amblema costata latecostata
(Lea), 1 specimen; Elliptio crassidens (Lamarck), 12 specimens, 3 pierced,
perhaps for use as hoes; Obovaria unicolor (Lea), 16 specimens; Lampsilis
stramineus (Conrad), 37 specimens; Pleurocera obovata (Say), 1 bead speci-
men. Shell traded from Kentucky, Tennessee, or northern Alabama.
Fire pit
Two — plow line to 0.2 foot below: Campeloma lewisii (Walker), 8
specimens.
One — 0.2 foot below plow line: Fusconaia negata (Lea), 3 specimens.
One — 0.3 foot below plow line: Ostrea species (fossil), 2 fragments.
Unassociated, village surface to plow line. Campeloma lewisii (Walker),
5 specimens; Fusconaia negata (Lea), 2 specimens.
Unassociated in village deposit, 0.4 foot below plow line. Campeloma
lewisii (Walker), 4 specimens; Viviparus contectoides (W. G. Binney), 1
specimen; Fusconaia negata (Lea), 3 specimens.
50
Analytical Site Summary and
Comparative Statement
The Bynum site consisted of six mounds and an extensive vil-
lage area. Of the six mounds, A, B, D, E, and F were excavated
and A, B, and D were found in a condition to yield data.
Mounds E and F had been almost obliterated by erosion and
plowing. Mound C, a small intact dome-shaped structure, was
left untouched. The village area was laid out in a grid system
of i o-foot trenches at 40-foot intervals and systematically tested
for occupational evidence.
In the village area over 3,000 post molds were uncovered, most
of which did not form easily recognizable patterns. But, from
the large number of molds it was possible to discern seven definite
circular patterns ranging in size from a small 14-foot circle to one
78 feet in diameter. (See features 7, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 24;
and map on fig. 2.) Of the five circular post mold patterns
extending in a line northwest from beneath mound A, the first,
feature 7, was sealed off beneath mound A and produced a few
sherds of the sand-tempered type only. Thus, this feature is one
that existed during the times of sand-tempered pottery and prior
to the advent of cordmarking as well as prior to the erection of
the mound covering it. The post molds of the other four pat-
terns (features 24, 14, 19, and 21) likewise yielded predominandy
sand-tempered fabric-impressed pottery, though some cordmarked
and clay-grit types appeared in the upper levels. The inference is
that all five of these structures were roughly contemporaneous,
at least they were probably in existence during the time only
fabric-impressed pottery was known, and, as the old post molds
filled in, later cordmarked and clay-grit wares were deposited
in the upper levels of the molds. Feature 20 was a more prob-
lematical circular post mold pattern, but the pottery associated
with it would indicate that, while possibly built during fabric-
impressed times, it lasted longer; for it had a higher percentage
of cordmarked (Furrs) than it did fabric impressed. It is also of
interest because of its association with the fragments of Marksville
pot which were found there. Feature 22 was the small 14-foot
circular pattern with a circular fire pit in center (fig. 2) and
undoubtedly represents a small house unit. The pottery asso-
ciated with it was scanty but included 42 percent Tishomingo
Cordmarked. Because of the few sherds, it is impossible to state
whether this structure is early or late, but probably it represents
a later type.
The five large circular patterns are of interest in comparing
them to other circular patterns from better known areas. In the
Lee County excavations, Jennings found two round or subrec-
tangular house patterns at the mound site of MLe-62, but these
were only 20 feet in diameter. In the Copena village site of
Luv-65, Webb (1942), found a small, circular house pattern.
This site, as discussed later, has other further traits in common
with Bynum. Adena sites produce large circular post mold pat-
terns, but these are always of two kinds — those with diameters of
97 feet or more and those with diameters of 60 feet or less.
None is known between these two dimensions (Webb, 1945,
p. 53). The Bynum circular patterns, however, had the follow-
ing diameters: Feature 7, 35 feet; feature 14, 65 feet; feature 19,
56 feet; feature 20, too problematical to estimate; feature 21, 78
feet; and feature 24, 58 feet. Adena post molds in both circular
and rectangular patterns are in pairs. This characteristic was
not observed at Bynum, though in one circular pattern (feature
14) some of the larger post molds seemed to be paired and smaller
post molds (three to five) interspersed between them. This ar-
rangement was observed for a portion of the circle, but did not
keep repeating itself in a regular manner so that it was impossible
to say definitely whether this design was deliberate or accidental.
Thus, the Bynum circular post mold patterns cannot be considered
typical Adena features either by diameter, size, or arrangement
of paired post molds.
Closer similarities to the Bynum circular post mold patterns are
seen in those excavated by Collins at the Deasonville site in
Yazoo County, Miss. (Collins, 1932). One (Collins' House Ring
No. 1, pp. 2-5) was a triple mold pattern much like Bynum
feature No. 24. Collins' example was 60 feet in diameter; Bynum
feature 24 was 58 feet in diameter. Two other circular patterns
were found by Collins, House Ring No. 2 being 45 feet in
diameter (ibid., pp. 5, 6), and House Ring No. 3 being only
38 feet in diameter (ibid., pp. 6, 8). The smallest circular
pattern from Bynum was the one sealed off by mound A which
was 35 feet in diameter.
Two major differences exist, however, between Collins' circular
post mold patterns and those of Bynum — his showed evidences of
entrance-ways on the western sides; those at Bynum had no dis-
tinct entrance that is now discernible; and the posts for Collins'
structures had been set in trenches which he was clearly able to
define. Those at Bynum had been set directly into the ground
without the benefit of wall trenches.
Personal correspondence with T. M. N. Lewis discloses that
four circular house patterns were found in the Hiwassee Island
mound and two in the village. On page 4 in Hiwassee Island
51
(Lewis and Kneberg, 1946), mention is made of finding a cir-
cular pattern on the Upper Valley component level of the De
Armond site. This Upper Valley period is regarded as con-
temporary with the Bynum pre -mound Saltillo Fabric ware.
Lewis believes that the early Bynum occupation is related rather
closely to the Upper Valley aspect and mentions finding some
large circular patterns having diameters of around 50 feet on a
site in Humphreys County, Tenn., on the bank of the Duck
River.
In the Norris Basin, the post mold patterns revealed in excava-
tion were all predominantly rectangular of various sizes (Webb,
1938, p. 190). Sites in the Wheeler Basin do not seem to have
produced any comparable circular post mold patterns (Webb,
1939). Although the Crooks site (type, Marksville site) produced
no circular post mold patterns, an "arc of post molds suggestive
of a circular structure" was found at the Tchefuncte site of
Lafayette mounds (Ford and Quimby, 1945, p. 22).
As indicated in the section on pottery, close affinities may exist
between the Bynum ceramic complex and those of the Delta
region when the findings of the Mississippi Valley survey are
available. From present evidence it would appear that the closest
similarities to structure patterns also lay in the Delta region.
Though the pottery complex extends eastward and northward
and included the findings of Jennings in Lee County, his post
mold patterns are not so similar to those of Bynum (or Deason-
ville) as the ones at Bynum are to Deasonville.
The indication of a circular post mold pattern having been
found at the Copena village site of Lu v 65 in northern Alabama
mentioned above is of increased interest because of the similarity
between that village and the Bynum village in several other traits
as well. Webb, in speaking of Lu v 65, says,
One of the outstanding features of the site was the large number of
midden pits which had been dug into the sub-soil, and which were easily
detected by difference in color and texture of earth (Webb, 1942, p. 173).
At Bynum there were numerous pits located in just this manner
(see section on excavations for details) some of which contained
refuse, both sherd and animal bones, others of which merely had
ash and charcoal.
The circular post mold pattern from Lu v 65 has already been
mentioned, but Webb says about it:
The pattern of the molds evidently indicates a circular structure, but
the outline is somewhat ragged due in part to the fact that a part of the
circular pattern is missing. . . . There appeared no definite prepared
floor for this structure which lay in the center of a midden area (Webb,
1942, p. 174).
No prepared floors were observed for any of the circular structures
at Bynum.
Site Lu v 65 produced 75 percent of all the sand-tempered cord-
marked pottery from the Pickwick Basin and 87 percent of all
the textile-impressed sand-tempered pottery. In addition, there
was a large amount of limestone-tempered ware (over 2,000
sherds) and a small amount (48 sherds) of clay-grit. Bynum, of
course, produced only a small amount of limestone-tempered pot-
tery, but the interesting factor here is that the site Lu v 65 should
produce the majority of cord and textile-impressed sand-tempered
wares from the entire Pickwick Basin. Bynum was a predom-
inantly cord and textile-impressed sand-tempered site.
Not all the traits postulated for Lu v 65 (Webb, 1942, p. 175),
were noted at Bynum but certain of those which were may be
quite diagnostic. Of the flint projectile points found at Lu v 65,
95 were of the characteristic Copena type. One from the Bynum
village area is of this variety (pi. 10, fig. 19), With these char-
acteristic points at Lu v 65 was associated another smaller triangu-
lar point labeled type No. 2 by Webb and illustrated in Webb's
lower row, plate 207, figure 1. Several points of this type were
also recovered from the village area at Bynum (compare pi. 10,
figs. 21 and 25, with those of Webb).
This Copena village site of northern Alabama, Lu v 65, was lo-
cated about 600 yards east of two earth mounds of the copper-
galena complex, sites Lu°63 and Lu°64. While Bynum mound
and Copena mound complexes are discussed below, it is impor-
tant to note in connection with this discussion of village areas that
in both cases mounds were located nearby. From one of these
mounds, Lu°63, came a lead-filled copper spool similar to one
recovered in Mound B at Bynum. (See section on copper
spools.)
At Bynum, differences in elevation between old village surfaces
beneath the mounds and present surfaces indicate erosion of
from two to three feet of topsoil over the entire village area.
This factor explains the occurrence of most burials immediately
below the plow zone or in areas where they were partially de-
stroyed by plowing. If we are to assume an occupation of consid-
erable duration after the abandonment of the circular post mold
structures by people who made grit-tempered and cordmarked pot-
tery, it would seem probable that occupational detritus accumu-
lated to some depth above the circular post mold pattern. This ac-
cumulation might well have preserved until the nineteenth century
much structural evidence, such as post molds, pits, and burials.
Subsequent erosion due to row cropping in the last 100 years
would account for obliteration of most superficial features and
for the deposition of a residue of late occupation material in the
plow zone.
The nature of the structures represented by the series of circu-
lar post mold patterns can only be estimated by inference. An
early use of the winter house as exemplified later among the
Chickasaw and other Muskoghean peoples suggest the most likely
use for these structures. Although many molds were observed
inside the circles, and although in each pattern at least one mold
seemed to occupy the approximate center of the circle, supports
are not definitely indicated. Among the large circular Adena
patterns which were over 97 feet in diameter, Webb suggested
that they were not covered by a single roof, but rather that
Scattered post molds in the interior of some of these large circles suggest
that "rooms" built against the inside walls of the circle may have had roofs.
This would have left a central area without any roof (Webb and Snow,
1945. P- 53)-
The smaller Adena structures (diameter 60 feet or less) seem to
have been covered by a single roof. Webb says,
No roof has ever been found, but its existence is predicated upon the
discovery of interior post molds arranged in a regular pattern which might
indicate roof supports (ibid.).
52
It is possible that some such similar arrangement existed in both
the larger and smaller circular structures at Bynum.
Gridding of the site by test trenches made it impossible that
any large structural pattern could have been missed in the main
area of village occupation. The multiplicity of apparently un-
related post molds uncovered by trench and area excavations can
be at least partly explained by the fact that all historic southeastern
villages had a diversity of scaffoldings, racks for drying game, and
single poles for trophies and ceremonies. Light temporary sum-
mer shelters would also leave post molds with indefinite pat-
terns. Occupation of the site over any reasonable period of time
could leave large numbers of such unassociated post molds.
Of the five excavated mounds at Bynum, only three produced
really usable data. Two mounds, E and F, had been eroded and
cultivated until almost obliterated. Mound F had further been
cut by the county road so that only a small portion of the original
mound still remained. Mound C was left unexcavated and can-
not be used in the following discussion.
Mound D, which was shown to be the earliest on a ceramic
basis, was erected over a large subpit which gave evidence of
having contained a hot fire or fires over a long period of time.
Corner post molds revealed that at one time the pit had been
covered by a canopy roof structure if not enclosed entirely by
walls and roof. Small branch molds on the western side of the
pit indicated the latter possibility, but they were not found on
the other sides. Possibly a flat roof with lean-to type wall on one
side was used. No bones or calcined bones other than a few frag-
ments of human tooth caps were recovered in the pit. This sub-
pit was a natural catchall for subsurface water. During excava-
tion, it was noted that the ash and charcoal in the pit was
extremely moist, especially in the lower levels. It is possible that
all evidence of bones other than the tooth cap fragments have
long since disappeared. Or it is possible that these tooth caps
indicate that there had been a body or bodies cremated in the
pit, but that the bones were removed for burial elsewhere.
The lead-filled copper spool and small crudely rolled bead in
the subpit may be actual mortuary offerings or they may be acci-
dental in that after the removal of the burned bones and other
material from the pit, these two items, partially destroyed, were
overlooked and left behind. One greenstone celt was found near
the rim of the crematory pit, and, although it might also be an
intentional offering, it could also have been overlooked in the
process of erecting the mound over the pit.
Mound D was somewhat similar to Mound B in that both had
been erected over pits which showed signs of cremations, and, if
the artifacts found in D are counted as actual mortuary offerings,
then both mounds had grave goods. Mound B likewise had
evidence of a structure having been placed over the pit. Small
branch molds were found completely around the rim of the pit
in mound B, whereas in mound D they were found on one side
only. The evidence seemed to show that in mound B after the
fires had cooled and the structure collapsed, the mortuary offer-
ings, cremations, and flesh burials were placed on the ashes in
the pit floor. No evidence of a structural collapse was noted
in mound D.
In mound A there was no evidence for presuming that orig-
inally there had been a covering structure over the burials. The
major part of the mound floor, however, had been burned and
contained ash, and in this respect it was similar to mound B.
The inclusion of two flanking logs on either side of the principal
burial perhaps substituted for the walls or rim of a pit. Burials
in mound A were flesh burials, of dry bones. In mound B,
however, all were cremations, the flexed ones representing in
situ cremations, except for one definite flesh burial, and one
assumed flesh burial with the copper spools. In mound D there
may have been no burials at all, though the pit had evidently been
used as a crematory pit. The burials were either made elsewhere,
or the bone traces subsequently rotted away.
On ceramic evidence, mound D is seen to be the earliest. There
is a slight indication that mound A might be earlier than B on
the basis of sherd percentages. The one copper spool in mound
D was completely lead filled. One spool in mound B was simi-
larly lead filled; one was partially lead filled; and 2 had no lead
filling at all. In mound A, none of the 4 spools were lead filled.
In mound D, 1 small greenstone celt was found; in mound B,
there were 20 stone celts of varying size and three clusters of large
projectile points. In mound A there were neither celts nor
projectile points. None of the three mounds had pottery as a
mortuary offering, though there were scattered sherds on the
mound floors, under various molds, and throughout the fills of all
three mounds. Although nothing can be stated definitely beyond
the fact that mound D is the eariiest, it seems likely that there
may be a progression from mound D to that of A, followed almost
immediately by B. Or it could be assumed that one group of
Indians, practicing cremation, built and used the pit of mound D.
Sometime subsequently another group with a knowledge of clay-
grit temper and cordmarking pottery, practicing flesh burials and
in situ cremations, built mound A. A subsequent amalgamation
of these two groups produced mound B, in which they joined the
burial ceremonials but instituted dry bone on the one hand and
flesh burial on the other. The flesh burials plus in situ crema-
tion and the copper spools without lead filling would be attribut-
able to the group from A. The dry bone cremations and the
celts and the lead-filled spools would have belonged to the group
from D. The idea of erecting a covered structure over the burial
and crematory pit would be derived from the smaller one of D.
This latter hypothesis, of two slightly -different groups joining to-
gether to build one large, bigger-than-ever burial mound is a tempt-
ing one to propose, especially in view of Dr. Newman's analysis of
the skeletal material. Dr. Newman found that the one restorable
burial from mound A was a definite Centralid type — seemingly the
earliest occurrence of this type so far south. The other burials in
the village area from this same horizon were of the Sylvid type.
The paucity of good skeletal material from the Bynum site again
makes it impossible to state categorically that a new physical
type, with some differing cultural traits, arrived alter the Bynum
area was first inhabited and subsequently amalgamated with the
original settlers, but the slight evidence offered would tend in
that direction. Further weight is lent to this hypothesis by a
personal communication from T. M. N. Lewis in 1949 who found
53
that the evidence from West Tennessee investigations indicated
that the people who made early fabric-marked, sand-tempered
pottery were a different group from the people who made clay
grit, cordmarked pottery.
Village burials were mainly flesh, flexed ones, though two ex-
amples of cremations (burials 28 and 29) were found not far
from Mound B, showing that cremation was not a trait reserved
solely for persons of significant rank alone. Descriptions of
these burials have already been given in the section on excavations
and Dr. Marshall T. Newman describes the physical anthropol-
ogy. From burials in the village area, grave goods were com-
pletely absent (except for the historic burials), unless one counts
numerous fresh-water mollusk shells which may have been acci-
dental inclusions. Only one of the shells showed the slightest
sign of having been worked or used for any other purpose than
the extraction of food.
The pottery analysis, based on the work of Jennings in Lee
County, Webb in the Pickwick Basin, and Ford and others in
Louisiana, showed a close relationship to the material in Lee
County, a similarity in chronology of tempers with Pickwick
Basin, and slight trade influences with the Marksville period to
the southwest. The mounds at Bynum sealed off an earlier
village layer that was pure sand-tempered plain or fabric-im-
pressed pottery. Mounds B and A showed evidences of slight
amounts of both sand-tempered and clay-grit cordmarked wares,
but mound D was entirely pure sand-tempered plain or fabric-im-
pressed. Jennings, in his Lee County excavations (Jennings,
1941), had been able to distinguish stratigraphically between the
cordmarked clay-grit type Tishomingo Cordmarked and the cord-
marked sand-tempered type Furrs Cordmarked. Because of the
sealing off of sand-tempered fabric pottery by the mounds at
Bynum and its pure occurrence in mound D, it was possible to
distinguish stratigraphically between the fabric-impressed wares
and the cordmarked wares. Thus, there is demonstrated a
chronological sequence of pottery types which runs from the earli-
est sand-tempered Baldwin Plain and Saltillo Fabric Impressed,
through sand-tempered Furrs Cordmarked into later clay-grit
tempered Tishomingo Plain and Tishomingo Cordmarked. In
other areas of the Southeast both fabric-impressed and cord-
marked pottery seem to be early. It appears in many of the
pottery complexes subsequent to fiber tempering and just prior to
or coeval with check stamping. (See Griffin, 1946, pp. 46-59, for
an excellent discussion of these early manifestations in the South-
east.) The sequential development of tempering types as devel-
oped for the Bynum site, the Lee County area, and the Pickwick
Basin does not always hold true in other areas as well. The gen-
eral priority, though, of both fabric-impressed and cordmarked
types of pottery seems to be valid.
Half a Marksville Stamped vessel and a few other scattered
sherds of Marksville types showed that there were trade influences
between that lower valley center and Bynum. Similarly, scat-
tered sherds of the Alexander series show influences from the
northern Alabama area. Sherds gathered from survey sites in
Lee, Chickasaw, Itawamba, Pontotoc, and Prentiss Counties of
northeastern Mississippi show that the occurrence of Alexander
type sherds at Bynum was no odd chance but a part of a much
wider spread pottery complex.
Ceramic similarities were closest between Bynum and the sites
of prehistoric occupation excavated by Jennings in Lee County
(Jennings, 1941). Indications as pointed out by Griffin are that
a sand-tempered fabric-impressed and clay-grit tempered cord-
marked complex may have extended from the Delta region of
Mississippi northeastward into the Lee County area (Griffin, 1945,
pp. 229, 230). This generalized spread would include the area
in which Bynum is located.
On the basis of ceramics alone, then, the Bynum site is placed
as being well within the range of Jennings' Miller culture. No
fiber-tempered pottery having been found at Bynum (though it
appears in nearby sites, cf. MCs-4), the Bynum site is not quite
so early as the beginning of Miller I, but starts soon after and
represents an occupation of the site through Miller II and into
the beginning of Miller III. A later reoccupation of the site
is represented by the historic Chickasaw burials found in the
village area. The early phases of Bynum are roughly con-
temporaneous with the later phases of the Alexander period of
the Pickwick Basin, which in turn can be related to Tchefuncte
in the Lower Valley (Ford and Quimby, 1945). The middle
phases of Bynum can be related to Jennings' Miller II in Lee
County and to Marksville in the Lower Valley. (See chart I.)
The original source for the sand-tempered fabric-impressed
pottery influences is most probably outside the Chickasaw and Lee
County areas. Jennings noted that his material was very similar
to that from the Guntersville Basin and that this, in turn, was
similar to pottery of Mobile Bay region. Since Bynum, like the
Lee County sites, is located on the headwaters of the Tombigbee
drainage, the possibilities of influences having spread up the
Tombigbee must not be overlooked. Jennings says:
Thus, through Moore's work on the Tombigbee, a strong cordmarked com-
plex, associated with check stamp (both presumably sand-tempered) is ob-
served to extend from Mobile Bay to the lower end of the Lee County
area. The association of sand with cord and textile marking observed in
the Lee and Adams area, coupled with Dunlevy's evidence of close affilia-
tions between Guntersville and Mobile Bay, gives an excellent suggestion
as to the origin of sand-tempered cordmarked material found throughout
Mississippi (Jennings, 1941, p. 217).
While the Bynum site produced a wealth of certain material
such as sherds, celts, and large projectile points, other traits
highly characteristic of the Southeast were completely lacking or
were found in such small quantities as to seem peculiar. One of
these outstanding anomalies was the complete lack of pipes or
other indications that the Bynum Indians knew or practiced
smoking. Pipes are early in the Southeast, being prominent in
Tchefuncte (Ford and Quimby, 1945) and being noted for
Archaic sites in western Tennessee (Lewis and Kneberg, 1947).
Jennings found a badly deteriorated limestone platform pipe at
the mound site of MLe-62 in Lee County (Jennings, 1941, p. 203).
This was the only example he found from the prehistoric level.
So far no pipes or fragments of pipes have been found at over
42 sites surveyed by surface collections from Lee and Chickasaw
Counties. It is possible that in this immediate area of north-
eastern Mississippi there existed Indians who did not practice
54
smoking, or who, if they did, practiced it by means of wooden
pipes or reed "cigarettes," all traces of which have long since
vanished.
The complete absence of bone tools is even harder to explain
than the absence of pipes. Refuse bones and burial bones were
preserved in a poor and deteriorated condition, and it seems
strange that some trace of bone tools was not likewise found.
Examples of worked shell, either as ornaments or tools, were
almost lacking at Bynum, except for the possible use as hoes
of three perforated shells and the one bead found with burials
24-26. Numerous broken shell fragments were found, however,
showing that the Indians used fresh-water mollusks at least as
food.
Stone tools, while found, were (with the exception of the cere-
monial greenstone celts) not very profuse. Certainly the amount
of knives, scrapers, etc., recovered during the ten months' excava-
tions were so few as to indicate that not much reliance was placed
upon game animals for subsistence. Gathering, some hunting,
and possibly some agriculture represented the main subsistence
activities of the prehistoric Bynum Indians.
Metallurgy, to the extent of a knowledge of complicated copper
spools filled with lead, was known to the Bynum Indians, yet
other artifacts of copper, common in other areas, were lacking.
No traces of copper celts, reels, or bracelets were found, and
only one crude bead was noted from mound D. While a few
lumps of galena were recovered in the excavations, there was
nothing like the profusion observed in some Copena sites. It
can only be presumed that lacking other copper artifacts the
Bynum Indians did not manufacture anything in the way of
metal tools or ornaments, but that the copper spools had been
traded in from some other area.
It is interesting to compare the totality of the Bynum site with
sites from other nearby regions. Both Bynum and Jennings' Lee
County prehistoric material show mounds of conical shape,
mound floors, subfloor pits, burials on mound floors, lack of burial
furniture directly in association with the burials on mound floor
(except for the copper spools with burial 1, mound A), both flexed
and extended burials. Jennings' burials in the mounds did not
have cremations with them as were found at Bynum; on the
other hand, the Bynum mounds did not display random inclusive
burials as did the MLe-62 mounds. Both the Lee County area
and the Bynum site have a close similarity in ceramics. In fact,
except for the Bynum type Houlka Gray and a few minority
wares, the same type pottery is found in both places. Each is
characterized by a plain and/or fabric, impressed ware, a sand-
tempered cordmarked ware, and a clay-grit plain and/or cord-
marked ware.
Lacking in Jennings' excavations were the large circular post
mold patterns of the village area at Bynum, the large projectile
points, the numerous celts and copper spools as mortuary offer-
ings. Jennings did find "two squared pieces of copper which
appear to have originally jacketed two wooden disc earplugs"
(Jennings, 1941, p. 203) in the fill of a previously dug hole in
mound B at MLe-62. This is not the same type of spool that was
characteristic of Bynum. In his historic sites Jennings found
many stone celts, including one "unpolished celt of greenstone"
(Jennings, 1941, p. 183), but none evidently from the prehistoric
sites.
With Copena there is about one-third agreement in the trait
list as given by Webb ( 1942, pp. 304, 305), including the following
traits as he lists them: Circular post mold pattern; site in vicinity
of large river; galena scattered throughout site; scattered post
molds; conical earth mounds; mounds occurring in groups; burial
in fire basin; subsoil burial pits; extended burials; flexed burials;
evidence of fire in burial pits; post mold associated with burial
pits; cremations; mica as burial furniture (dubious at Bynum);
flint scrapers; flint knives; drills; triangular points; small green-
stone celts (one at Bynum); Copena points (one at Bynum);
large greenstone celts; beads, cyclindrical rolled sheets (one at
Bynum); spool-shaped ear ornaments (at Bynum these ornaments
of copper were not associated with the ears); round-bottomed ves-
sels; folded rims or added rim strips; sand-tempered pottery;
crushed limestone-tempered sherds (a very small percent at By-
num). Not all the above traits obviously occurred at Bynum with
the frequency that they do in Copena sites as a whole. The
Copena trait list as prepared by Webb is composed of character-
istics from eight sites. Bynum is only one site with attached
village.
The Bynum site likewise seems to share some traits with Adena
though these are not as numerous or pronounced as with Copena.
A comparison with Webb's trait list for Adena shows the follow-
ing traits in common (Webb's trait list numbers are shown in
parentheses):
Mounds conical (7).
Mounds one of a group (8).
Mounds built on their own villages (11).
Primary mound contains midden (14).
Later mound sections built of sterile clays (15) (mound A at Bynum
alone showed this trait).
Village midden in situ under mound (17).
Mound shows individual earth loads (18).
Impressions of grass, twigs, and leaves (19).
Fired area at mound base (20).
Primary purpose of mounds to cover burials (22).
Single log rectangle about body (26) (mound A at Bynum alone showed
this trait).
Pit tomb dug below earth surface (37).
Earth or stone embankment about subfloor tomb (38).
Mound erected over subfloor tomb (40).
Multiple occupancy of house sites (50) (possible in the large circular
patterns of the village area at B\nnm, but not known whether this
was definitely done or not).
Fire basin in village circular (54).
Fire basins had potsherds in ashes (58).
Cremations, remain redeposited separately in mound (66).
Cremations redeposited separately in village (67) (two cases only at
Bynum)
Unburned artifacts placed with redeposited cremations (74) (only
mound B at Bynum).
Body extended, in flesh on back, no tomb (77).
Important central graves (82).
Skeletons flexed (94).
Stemmed projectile points deposited in cache (103).
Celts, granite, and other igneous rock (123).
Beads, rolled sheet of Copper (181).
55
Common pottery traits include the following:
Woodland Cordmarked (202).
Pottery vessels not used as mortuary offerings (205).
The Bynum relationships with the Tchefuncte-Marksville area
are fewer than they are with other areas. One Tchefuncte site,
the Lafayette mounds, produced a suggested circular post mold
pattern. One copper spool at the Crooks site was similar to those
at Bynum. The fragments of a portion of a Marksville pot and
a few other sherds of Marksville type are the closest tie-up between
the Bynum site and the Tchefuncte-Marksville area.
It would seem then that the closest similarities with Bynum lay
in sites to the northeast in the Lee County area and in northern
Alabama (Copena sites) and a possibility of tie-ins with material
from the Delta region, especially the Yazoo River area.
The Bynum site appears to have been one which was occupied
early in southeastern prehistory by a group of Woodland or
Woodland derived Indians who knew the use of sand-tempered
pottery. Sometime after their initial settlement of the site, the
practice of building burial mounds was inaugurated. The initial
pit tomb had a canopy type covering and possibly side walls
and covered crematory pits as well as cremations. Subsequent
to the introduction of the burial mound idea, cordmarked,
pottery, first with sand temper and later with clay-grit temper,
was introduced. At the same time, as examplified by mound A,
either the burial customs changed to all flesh burials or possibly
a new but unrelated group introduced these innovations. Grave
goods were usually scanty and never included pottery. As no
evidence exists of temple mounds or of secondary burials in the
burial mounds, it can be assumed that the Bynum site was not
occupied continuously up into historic times. Both the ceramic
and nonceramic material seems to indicate that there was a
hiatus in the occupation of the site between the time of the
people who built the mounds and the reoccupation of the site
by a late historic group of Chickasaw Indians. These latter
Indians made the graves containing the trade goods material and
probably no longer practiced the art of pottery making, but relied
on European manufactured goods in that respect.
56
Conclusions
The objective of this excavation was achieved by salvaging
data and artifacts at a site through which the Natchez Trace
Parkway will be constructed, and by utilizing this material to
interpret the features of the site and the traits of its inhabitants
for research and the general public.
The framework within which the prehistoric period of the
Bynum site fits is a general southern Hopewellian manifestation
with many Woodland determinants present. These manifesta-
tions come within the general horizon of what has been termed
Burial Mound I in this region. Trait affiliations are in evidence
to link Marksville in Louisiana, and Deasonville-Miller II in
Mississippi with Copena in northern Alabama. All have trait
affinities with the southern Hopewellian manifestations at Mc-
Quorquodale in southern Alabama and the Hamilton focus of
the Middle Valley Aspect of the Hopewellian phase in Tennessee.
Many key determinants within the broad Woodland pattern are
to be recognized among the foci here represented. A survey
of Bynum traits places the burial mounds and prehistoric village
alike in definite relationship to complexes within this framework.
The problem is to determine the position of prehistoric Bynum
in relation to these foci, granted that definite relationship exists,
and so establish cultural and temporal horizons. In the absence
of vertical stratigraphy except by limited inference, the site has
been divided into an historic phase, that of the Chickasaw occu-
pation 1810-35, an d a prehistoric phase of unknown absolute
duration in which it is possible to differentiate the burial mounds
with their associated post mold circles from the residue of the
village site, including flexed oval-pit burials, most refuse pits,
and miscellaneous superficial post molds without discernible
patterns.
Evidence may be set up on the basis of the accompanying trait
comparisons to support relationship of the Bynum mound and
prehistoric village manifestations to Hopewellian foci in the
Southeast. Here it may be observed that a significantly large
proportion of Bynum mound traits is found in the Copena and
Miller foci, with Copena in the lead showing 85.7 percent.
Miller, 78.6 percent, is closely followed by the Hamilton focus,
71.4 percent, and Marksville, 67.8 percent. McQuorquodale,
while including many important traits, is last with 57.1 percent.
Traits associated with the village site at Bynum are totaled
separately because it is possible that the builders of the mounds
were followed by later prehistoric non-mound-building peoples
and ultimately by historic Chickasaw. The historic Chickasaw
traits are not included. An obvious disadvantage is incurred
in the village trait comparisons due to the fact that the loci com-
pared are identified primarily with mound investigation. II more
were known of Miller, Copena (aside from Lu'65), Marksville,
"Southern Alabama Hopewell" and Middle Tennessee Valley
village sites, a more representative list could be offered. The
foci with most traits identified at the Bynum village are Miller II
with 71.8 percent, followed by Copena with 56.4 percent. Marks-
ville, McQuorquodale, and Hamilton, each of which lacks specific
village trait associations, all drop below 50 percent and are least
comparable.
In all of these foci, key traits may be observed: conical burial
mounds with subfloor pits, except possibly for Marksville; burial
offerings, which are rarely abundant and frequently absent,
typically nonpottery with stone and some copper artifacts; flaked
artifacts made from cores or heavy flakes (primary chipping
predominant over secondary); points characteristically stemmed
and corner-notched; and pottery with impressed designs on simple
forms.
In placing Bynum temporally it should be noted that foci with
which it is compared are not entirely coeval with this site or with
each other. Thus,
Copena has connection with the later Middle Mississippi complex, for it
includes globular vessels with an incised decoration on the rim, strap han-
dles, the specialized Copena point and small triangular points (Griffin, 1946,
p. 72).
At Bynum none of these Copena traits are associated with
mounds A, B, and D and the early period of the site. The dom-
inance of sand-tempered fabric-marked pottery, cremations
(mounds B and possibly D), and the apparent absence of corn,
all point to pre-Copena elements at Bynum. It is reasonable to
present the first occupation at Bynum as possibly contemporary
with late Archaic in Louisiana, northern Mississippi, and Ala-
bama, and prior to the fully developed Copena. Subsequent oc-
cupation featuring clay-grit cordmarked pottery, extraneous
wares, and oval pit graves may extend the temporal span upward.
Connections with Woodland and Hopewell are apparent in many
Bynum mound traits. Since no dendrochronological material or
definitely dated trait or object was obtained at Bynum, it is im-
possible to speak in terms of dates, except for the final historic
Chickasaw occupation of 1810-35.
The Bynum site can thus be regarded as a component with
close affiliation with Miller II, Copena, and Marksville foci, and
definite affinity with McQuorquodale of southern Alabama and
Hamilton focus of middle Tennessee aspect, within the Hope-
wellian phase and ultimately within a general Woodland pattern.
In further support of these relationships, as demonstrated by traits.
an active trade — shown by the presence of Busycon from the
Cull ("oast, copper from the (Jre.it Lakes region, greenstone Irom
the Alabama-Tennessee piedmont, Hint from northern Alabama.
Tennessee, and possibly Ohio, and galena Irom Missouri — indi-
cates the employment in prehistory ol the north south trail system
which became the Natchez Trace.
57
Tables
Table I. — Comp
arative
trait list, Bynum site
Bynum traits (prehistoric)
Miller
Copena
Marks-
ville
McQuor-
quodale
Ten-
nessee
Hamil-
ton
focus
FOOD GETTING
Agriculture inferred but un-
substantiated :
Corn (inference) MV
Inf.
Inf. (?)
(No)
Inf.
X
lunting and gathering:
Hickory nuts MV
Deer V
X
X
X
X
Bison V
Terrapin V
Beaver V
Mollusks, fresh water. .V
COMMUNITY PLAN
/illage location:
On low bluffs bounding
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Lying between mounds
Ullage structures:
Circular or ovoid
Posts set in holes
No entry observed
Shallow fire basins
X
X
(?)
(?)
X
X
X
X
X
(?)
X
Burial mound groups
Ullage complex:
X
X
X
X
X
Burials in oval pits
Burials with shells of food
Burials tightly flexed
lounds:
Domed or conical
Burial mounds only
Continuous construction. .
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
(?)
Humus largely cleaned
from mound floor
Subfloor burials
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
(?)
X
Burial on floor framed by
X
Post-supported structure
Table I. — Comparative trait list, Bynum site
— Continued
Ten-
Bynum traits (prehistoric)
Miller
Copena
Marks-
ville
McQuor-
quodale
nessee
Hamil-
ton
focus
COMMUNITY PLAN COn.
Mounds — Continued
Mound built over burned
structure or widespread
fire
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Fire in burial pits
Log impressions on central
X
CEREMONIAL ACTIVITY
Mound complex:
Burials lightlv flexed
X
X
X
X
Burials extended
X
X
X
X
X
Burials with nonceramic
offerings
X
X
X
X
Burials with copper spools
X
X
X
X
Burials with greenstone
celts
X
X
X
X
Burials with flaked points
X
X
X
X
Redeposition of cremated
X
X
X
INDUSTRIAL AND ARTISTIC
ACTIVITY
Flaked stone:
X
X
Stemmed points V
X
X
X
X
X
Side scrapers V
X
X
X
X
X
End scrapers V
Drills V
X
X
X
X
X
X
Knives V
X
y
X
X
Ground stone:
Greenstone celts M
X
X
X
x(?)
Metates V
X
X
X
X
Manos V
x(?)
x(?)
X
X
Pitted stones V
X
X
X
X
Hematite as pigment. . . V
Shell (utilized):
X
Busycon with burial. . M
Shell hoe V
Metal complexes:
X
Rolled copper bead . . M
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Galena, ground or
X
X
X
X
soii.n o— 5i-
59
Table I. — Comparative trait
list, By
num site — Continued
Bynum traits (prehistoric)
Miller
Copena
Marks-
ville
McQuor-
quodale
Ten-
nessee
Hamil-
ton
focus
INDUSTRIAL AND ARTISTIC
activity — continued
Galena, powdered M
Fiber complex : Twined
cord M
x
x
X
X
X
X
X
Pottery complex:
Local types:
Baldwin Plain. . . . MV
Saltillo Fabric Im-
pressed MV
Furrs Cordmarked MV
Tishomingo Cord-
marked . MV
Tishomingo Plain . . MV
Houlka Gray MV
Minority types:
Single Cord Im-
pressed M V
Limestone Tem-
pered MV
Marksville Stamped . . V
X
X
X
X
Alexander Incised . V
X
X
X
X
General categories:
Cordmarked. MV
X
X
X
X
Fabric-Marked.. ..MV
X
Plain MV
X
X
X
Duplications omitted:
28 Bynum mound traits . . .
39 Bynum village traits. . .
22
28
24
22
19
18
16
7
20
18
Note. — Unless specifically noted, M = mound and V = village.
Table 2. — Frequency and occurrence of right angle everted
rims, Baldwin Plain
Provenience Number
Mound A:
i foot above floor in fill I
0.3 foot above mound floor in fill I
Below burial I
Total 3
Mound B:
0.5 foot above mound floor in fill l
2 feet from surface in fill I
1 1 .4 feet from surface in fill I
Under log mold I
Feature 8:
Prepared floor I
0.5 foot below rim molds 1
0.6 foot below floor 2
Feature 10, at end log molds inside rim 1
Total 9
60
Table 2. — Frequency and occurrence of right angle everted
rims, Baldwin Plain — Continued
Provenience Number
Mound D m
Village site 2 o
Feature 14 5
Feature 17 '. j
Feature 19 !0
Post mold j
Feature 21 j
Feature 23 2
Feature 24 2
Burial 18 1
Total 43
.. Grand total 62
Table 3. — Frequency and occurrence of narrow-mouthed
bowls, Baldwin Plain
Provenience Number
Mound A:
0.4 foot in sod 3
At foot of burial 1
Total 4
Mound B 3
0.2 foot in sod 1
0.5 foot from surface 1
0.7 foot from top at center 3
First rim molds 1
0.2 foot under log molds 1
0.4 foot above undisturbed red clay 3
Feature 8:
0.1 foot below floor in prepared clay 1
Pit bottom in fill 1
Feature 10:
In pit fill 1
At bottom of fire pit 1
Feature 33 1
0.5 foot below bottom of plow line 1
Total 19
Mound D 1
Village site:
Surface to plow line 3
From surface of post molds 1
0.4 to 1.5 feet below surface 2
0.4 foot in plow line 2
Bottom of plow line to 0.5 foot below 1
Plow line to 1 foot 1
Post molds, plow line to 1 foot I
Post molds, 1 to 2 feet I
West border of site 2
On surface 1
0.4 foot in plow zone 1
Fire pit, N. 1950/E. 1500, level I, 0.1 to 0.5 foot below
plow line 1
Fire pit, N. 2020/E. 1320, 0.1 to 0.3 foot below plow line I
Feature 17 (below plow line) 2
Table 3. — Frequency and occurrence of narrow -mouthed
bowls, Baldwin Plain — Continued
Provenience Number
Village site — Continued
Feature 19:
Plow line to 1 foot 5
0.6 to 1 foot 1
Feature 23, Plow line to 0.1 foot below 1
Feature 28, 1 foot below plow line in pit 2
Feature 30, bottom of plow line to 0.5 foot below 1
Total 30
Grand total 54
Table 4. — Frequency and occurrence of straight-sided bowls,
Baldwin Plain
Provenience Number
Mound A 2
Mound B 7
Feature 8, under log molds I
Total : 8
Mound D 2
Feature 32 I
Total 3
Village site 9
West border of site 4
1 foot test at N. 2200/E. 1200 I
Fire pit, N1950/E1500 I
Feature 16 I
Feature 19 5
Feature 21 I
Burial 26 1
Total 23
Grand total 36
Table 5. — Frequency and occurrence of flaring rim bowls,
Baldwin Plain
Provenience Number
Mound A i
Mound B 17
Mound B, 0.3 foot in sod I
Feature 8 1
Total 19
Mound D 7
Feature 36 1
Total 8
Village site 28
Test trench 1
West border of site 8
Fire pit, N. 2040/E. 1 490 1
Fire pit, N. 2150/E. 1300 2
Feature 16 1
Table 5. — Frequency and occurrence of flaring rim bowls,
Baldwin Plain — Continued
Provenience Number
Village site — Continued
Feature 17 3
Feature 19 13
Feature 21 2
Feature 23 4
Feature 24 3
Feature 29 1
Burial 24 1
Total 68
Grand total 96
Table 6. — Frequency and occurrence of miscellaneous rims,
Baldwin Plain
Provenience Number
Village site 5
Feature 19 1
Burial 18 1
Burial 27 1
Total 8
Table 7. — Frequency and occurrence of punctated rims,
Baldwin Plain
Provenience Number
Village site 6
West border of site 2
Post molds 1
Feature 17 4
Fire pit 1
Feature 19 9
Feature 24 2
Total 25
Table 8. — Frequency and occurrence of flaring rims,
Saltillo Fabric Impressed
Provenience Number
Mound A i
Mound B 31
Feature 33 4
Feature 8 1
Total 36
Mound D 1
Village site 31
West border of site 1
Top of post mold, N. 1840/E. 1570 1
N. 1 860/E. 1580 2
Feature 19 36
Feature 17 8
Feature 21 3
Feature 23 1
Feature 24 3
Burial 18 1
Total 88
Grand total 126
61
Table 9. — Frequency and occurrence of straight rims,
Saltillo Fabric Impressed
Provenience Number
Mound A 3
Mound B 13
Feature 33, west of mound B 1
Burial 29 I
Total 15
Mound D 7
Village site 26
West border of site 3
Fire pit, N. 2010/E. 1410 1
Fire pit, N. 2020/E. 1320 1
Fire pit, N. 2040 /E. 1490 1
Feature 14 1
Feature 16 4
Feature 17 14
Feature 19 32
Feature 20 1
Feature 21 1
Total 85
Grand total no
Table 10. — Frequency and occurrence of miscellaneous rims,
Saltillo Fabric Impressed
Provenience Number
Mound B 1
Village site 3
Feature 17 1
Feature 19 1
Total 5
Mound D 1
Grand total 7
Table 11. — Frequency and occurrence of incurving rims,
Furrs Cordmarked
Provenience Number
Mound B i
Village site 1 6
West border of site 8
In dark area, N. 2080/E. 1 600 I
Fire pit, N. 1 950/E. 1500 1
Feature 23 7
Feature 24 2
Feature 29 1
Burial 16 I
Burial 20 1
Burials 24 and 26 3
Burial 24 6
Burial 27 3
Total 50
Grand total 51
62
Table 12. — Frequency and occurrence of flaring rims,
Furrs Cordmarked
Provenience Number
Village site 2
West border of site i
Total 3
Table 13. — Frequency and occurrence of incurving rims,
Tishomingo Cordmarked
Provenience Number
Mound A i
Mound B io
Village site 44
In a dark area, N. 2080/E. 1600 2
West border of site 5
Fire pit, N. 1 950/E. 1 500 7
Fire pit, N. 1 970/E. 1 500 1
Fire pit, N. 2060/E. 1470 1
Feature 14 1
Feature 23 25
Feature 24 2
Burial 16 2
Burial 20 1
Burial 23 1
Burial 24 9
Burials 24 and 26 13
Total 114
Grand total 125
Table 14. — Frequency and occurrence of flaring rims,
Tishomingo Cordmarked
Provenience Number
Mound B i
Village site:
West border of site I
Feature 23 2
Total 3
Grand total 4
Table 15. — Frequency and occurrence of rim shapes,
Tishomingo Plain
FLARING RIMS
Provenience Number
Mound B 2
Village site:
West border of site 1
Burial 18 1
Total 2
Total flaring rims 4
Table 15. — Frequency and occurrence of rim shapes,
Tishomingo Plain — Continued
INCURVING RIMS
Provenience Number
Mound B I
Village site 5
West border of site 5
Feature 17 1
Burial 18 I
Pit containing burials 24 and 26 1
Total 13
Total incurving rims 14
RIGHT ANGLE EVERTED RIMS
Village site I
West border of site 2
Total 3
Total all rims 21
Table 16. — Frequency and occurrence of rim shapes,
Houlka Gray
FLARING RIMS
Provenience Number
Mound B 5
Village site 4
West border of site I
Feature 17 1
Feature 19 1
Burial 24 1
Total 8
Total flaring rims 13
STRAIGHT RIMS
Mound B 1
Village site 8
West border of site I
Feature 16 1
Feature 19 2
Feature 23 1
Total 13
Total straight rims 14
Total all rims 27
Table 17. — Frequency and occurrence of Marksville
Stamped and Incised
MARKSVILLE STAMPED
Provenience Number
Mound B: Pit floor '
Table 17. — Frequency and occurrence of Marksville
Stamped and Incised — Continued
marksville stampbd — continued
Provenience
Village site
Feature 16.
Feature 20
Number
2
1
21
Total
Grand total
24
25
MARKSVILLE INCIShD
Mound B
Table 1 8. — Frequency and occurrence of limestone-tempered
sherds
Provenience Number
Mound B:
0.3 foot below surface 1
0.6 foot above mound floor in fill (may be in intrusive ditch) ... I
Total
Village site:
Surface, 0—0.5 loot
Feature 16, plow line to 3 feet in fire pit
Feature 17, in level II
Feature 19, plow line to 1 foot
Depth 1 to 2 feet
Feature 23, plow line to 0.3 foot
Total
Grand total
15
17
Table 19. — Frequency and occurrence of single cord-
impressed shreds
Provenience
Feature 16: Plow line to 3 feet in fire pit
Feature 17:
Below plow line
Plow line to 0.7 foot below
Feature 19:
Plow line to 1 foot
Depth, 3 to 4 feet
Feature 23: Plow line to 0.6 foot
Feature 24: Plow line to 0.5 to 1 foot below
Mound B: Bottom of fire pit
Number
1
Total
Table 20. — Frequency and occurrence of Alexander Incised
RIM SI11RDS
Provenience
Mound B: Feature 33
Mound I): 0.8 foot from surface in fill
Total, rim sherds
Number
I
1
63
Table 20. — Frequency and occurrence of Alexander
Incised — Continued
ALMOST RIM SHERDS
Provenience Number
Village site 2
Feature 1 7, below plow line I
Total, almost rim sherds 3
BODY SHERDS
Mound B: Feature 10 2
Village site: Feature 24, 0.5 foot depth 1
Total, body sherds 3
Total, all sherds 8
Table 21. — Frequency and occurrence of miscellaneous
incised sherds
Provenience Number
Mound B:
Feature 1 o, below fire pit 1
Feature 33 1
Total 2
Village site 4
Feature 19, post mold I
Feature 24, post mold 1
Total 6
Mound D:
Fill, 2.2 feet above old sod 1
Top of old sold 1
Total 2
Grand total 10
Table 22. — Frequency and occurrence of bone-tempered
shreds
Provenience Number
Village site 3
Table 23. — Stone object provenience
The lithic artifact yield of the entire Bynum site is so limited
that the following brief summary will account for every stone
implement recorded:
MOUNT) A
No lithic artifacts were intentionally buried in central tomb feature. Fill
inclusions were —
i end scraper on flake, retouched,
i ovate blank, percussion flaked.
MOUND B
Feature 8, central tomb:
27 green schistose celts, polished entire.
2 fine-grained greenstone celts, polished entire.
19 barb haft spear points.
1 mano in fill 0.4 foot above pit floor.
Surface of mound B: 1 pitted sandstone.
Table 23. — Stone object provenience — Continued
MOUND D
Feature 35, central tomb: 1 green schistose celt, polished entire.
Mound fill: 1 grinding stone, metate fragment, 0.3 foot below sod line.
MOUND F
On eroded surface: 1 green schistose celt, polished entire.
VILLAGE SITE
Feature 19, in molds of circular post mold strucrure:
1 simple haft flake point.
3 leaf-shaped knives.
Feature 16, refuse pit:
1 leaf-shaped flaked knife.
1 ovate blank, flaked.
Feature 24, intrusive upon circular pattern of post molds: 1 miniature green-
stone celt, polished entire in rectangular pit at same level as Chickashaw
graves.
In post molds unassociated with structural features:
1 discoidal polished stone fragment, depth 0.4 foot below plow line.
I triangular small arrowhead, depth 1 foot to 2 feet below plow line.
Surface of village to bottom of plow zone:
15 metates or grinding stones, none entire, sandstone.
II manos, including 6 fragments, sandstone.
12 pitted sandstones, probably for use in cupping the ends of drills, 9
complete.
1 drilled slate pendent, rectangular.
1 discoidal, fragment, polished.
2 projectile points, straight base.
10 projectile points, simple haft.
12 triangular projectile points.
2 side-notched projectile points.
4 knives, leaf-shaped.
4 side scrapers on flakes.
1 end scraper on flake.
2 flaked drills.
Table 24. — Stone object measurements
Types and measurements (in centimeters) of lithic implements
at Bynum site may be summarized as follows:
29 polished celts from feature 8, mound B:
Length: Maximum, 31.7; minimum, 13.8; average, 21.2.
Width: Maximum, 9.5; minimum, 5.6; average, 7.5.
Thickness: Maximum, 5.8; minimum, 4.0; average, 4.9.
1 polished celt from feature 35, mound D:
Length: 16.0.
Width: 6.9.
Thickness: 4.0.
1 polished celt from mound F surface:
Length: 19.4.
Width: 7.5.
Thickness: 5.0.
1 fragmentary polished celt from mound A surface.
1 crude partly polished sandstone celt from village surface:
Length: 10.5.
Width: 4.7.
Thickness: 2.7.
64
Table 24. — Stone object measurements — Continued
Table 24- — Stone object measurements — Continued
i miniature celt from association with historic Chickasaw occupation.
Length: 5.5.
Width: 4.3.
Thickness: 1.8.
19 flared stem to barbed shoulder projectile points (type A) from feature
8, mound B (all complete):
Length: Maximum, 9.6; minimum, 7.3; average, 8.4.
Width: Maximum, 4.7; minimum, 3.2; average, 3.9.
Thickness: Maximum, 1.0; minimum, 0.6; average 0.8.
12 simple haft flaked points (type B), 7 complete, village site:
Length: Maximum, 6.5; minimum, 3.5; average, 5.0.
Width: Maximum, 2.4; minimum, 1.6; average, 2.1.
Thickness: Maximum, 1.2; minimum, 0.8; average, 1.0.
2 expanding stem flaked projectile points (type C), 1 complete, village site:
Length: 2.4.
Width: 1.4.
Thickness: 0.4.
13 triangular small flaked projectile points (type D), 4 complete, village site:
Length: Maximum, 2.7; minimum, 1.8; average, 2.2.
Width: Maximum, 2.0; minimum, 1.4; average, 1.7.
Thickness: Maximum, 0.7; minimum, 0.4; average, 0.6.
2 square-based projectile points (type E) flaked, 1 complete, village site:
Length: 5.4.
Width: 2.5.
Thickness: 0.7.
9 knives, leaf-shaped, flaked, 6 complete, village site:
Length: Maximum, 5.8; minimum, 3.7; average, 5.2.
Width: Maximum, 2.5; minimum, 1.6; average, 2.2.
Thickness: Maximum, 1.3; minimum, 0.9; average, 10.
2 drills, flaked, village site, both incomplete.
4 side scrapers on flake, village site, all complete:
Length: Maximum, 5.0; minimum, 3.1; average, 4.2.
Width: Maximum, 1.8; minimum, 1.2; average, 1.5.
Thickness: Maximum, 0.9; minimum, 0.4; average, 0.6.
2 end scrapers on flake, village site (1), mound A fill (1) (both complete):
Length: 6 — 4.
Width: 6—4.
Thickness: 1.5 — 1.7.
2 ovate blanks, complete, village site (1), mound A fill (1):
Length: 7.0 — 5.5.
Width: 5.4 — 3.5.
Thickness: 2.3 — 1.2.
18 metates, all fragments (no measurements) village site (except 1 from
mound D fill):
1 1 manos, 5 complete, village site:
Length: Maximum, 10. 1; minimum, 8.3; average, 8.8.
Width: Maximum, 8.1; minimum, 5.1; average, 6.6.
Thickness: Maximum, 3.6; minimum, 2.7; average, 3.2.
12 pitted stones, 9 complete, village site:
Length: Maximum, 10.5; minimum, 5.6; average, 9.1.
Width: Maximum, 8.4; minimum, 4.5; average, 6.8.
Thickness: Maximum, 4.6; minimum, 2.7; average, 3.5.
Table 23. — Measurements and indices of Bynum site skulls
Glabello-occipital length
Maximum breadth
Basion-bregma height
Auricular height
Minimum frontal diameter
Nasion-basion length
Basion-prosthion length
Frontal chord
Frontal subtense
Total facial breadth
Total facial height
Upper facial height
Nasal height
Nasal breadth
Left orbital height
Left orbital breadth (dac.)
External palate length
External palate breadth
Condylo-symphyseal length
Bicondylar breadth
Bigonial breadth
Minimum breadth, ascending
ramus
Symphysis height
Gonial angle
Length-breadth index. .
Mean height index. . . .
Frontal curve index. . . .
Total facial index
Upper facial index
Nasal index
Left orbital index
External palatal index .
Mandibular index
No. 16,
Male
' (184)
(130)
41
(70.65)
No. 18,
Male
183
146
147
125
95
105
100
118
26
141
125
70
50
26
34
41
55
(109)
132
107
34
121
79.78
80.05
22.03
88.65
49.64
52.00
82.93
82.58
No. 19,
Female
168
137
136
113
91
95
93
108
27
127
118
69
46
28
36
39
52
(67)
(98)
(29)
35
81.55
81.25
25.00
92.91
54.33
60.87
92.31
128. 85
No. 20,
Female
(174)
130
(74.71)
No. 23,
Male
177 +
(114)
114
28
114
67
48
25
33
37
49
63
101
116
101
32
32
133
24.56
52.08
88.19
128. 57
87.07
1 Parentheses indicate approximate measurement or index.
65
Table 26. — Long bone measurements and indices of the Bynum site skeletons
No. 16, male
No. IS
, male
No. 19,
female
No. 20,
female
No. 22, female (?)
No. 23,
male (?)
No. 24,
female
Right
Left
Right
Left
Right
Left
Right
Left
Right
Left
Right
Left
Right
Left
Femur:
Bicondylar length
452
455
89
19.6
372
96
25.8
(431)
504
506
93
18.4
429
90
21.0
367
71
19.3
280
45
16.1
300
413
419
85
20.3
339
79
23.3
415
421
88
20.9
340
81
23.8
394
400
74
18.5
327
70
21.4
396
403
77
19.1
330
70
21.2
279
51
18.3
213
33
15.5
425
427
85
19.9
(420)
(427)
(355)
416
420
86
20.5
343
84
24.5
301
66
21.9
229
38
16.6
245
416
418
88
21.0
349
83
23.8
303
65
21.4
228
35
15.4
243
414
420
87
20.7
Maximum length
Midshaft circumference
Midshaft index
Tibia:
Maximum length
Midshaft circumference
Midshaft index
Humerus:
308
65
21.1
238
49
20.6
Midshaft index
Radius:
Maximum length
240
51
21.2
214
37
17.3
231
227
49
21.6
23"
41
17 (
Ulna: Maximum length. . . .
66
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Plates 1-20
69
Plate I . — Provenience of figures
Figure No.: Provenience
1 Mound D.
2 Do.
3 Do.
4 Feature 19, village site.
5 Village site.
6 Do.
7 Feature 19, village site.
8 Do.
9 Do.
10 Village site.
11 Feature 17, village site.
12 Village site.
13 Do.
14 Mound D, rim molds.
15 Feature 19, village site.
16 Village site.
17 Feature 19, village site.
18 Village site.
19 Feature 19, village site.
20 Mound B fill.
21 Feature 19, village site.
22 Do.
23 Feature 17, village site.
24 Mound D.
25 Village site.
26 Feature 19, village site.
27 Do.
28 Village site.
29 Burial 27, village site.
30 Village site.
31 Mound D.
32 Feature 28, village site.
Note. — All figures are Baldwin Plain.
70
71
Plate 2. — Provenience of figures
Figure No. : Provenience
1 Feature 19, village site.
2 Village site.
3 Feature 19, village site.
4 Village site.
5 Mound B, 0.4 foot from surface
in fill.
6 Village site.
7 Do.
8 Mound B, bottom of fire pit.
9 Do.
10 Village site.
11 Feature 33, mound B.
12 Village site.
13 Do.
14 Feature 19, village site.
15 Mound A, in fill.
16 Feature 8, mound B.
17 Feature 19, village site.
18 Feature 17, village site.
19 Mound D, 1 foot below old sod.
20 Feature 19, village site.
21 Village site.
22 Do.
23 Mound B, ash layer above clay.
24 Feature 33, mound B.
25 Feature 20, village site.
Note. — All figures arc Baldwin Plain, except No. 25, Marksville Stamped.
72
73
Plate 3. — Provenience of figures
Saltillo Fabric Impressed
flaring rims
Figure No. : Provenience
1 Village site.
2 Mound B.
3 Do.
4 Do.
5 Feature 24, village site.
6 Mound B.
STRAIGHT RIMS
7 Village site.
8 Feature 21, mound D.
9 Mound D.
10 Village site.
11 Feature 31, mound D.
12 Feature 16, village site.
13 Mound A.
14 Feature 17, village site.
15 Feature 8, mound B.
STRAIGHT COL.
16 Feature 32, mound D.
RIGHT ANGLE EVERTED
17 Feature 32, mound D.
MISCELLANEOUS
18 West border of site.
STRIPPED RIMS
19 Feature 19, village site.
20 Village site.
FURRS CORDMARKED
21 Village site.
22 Burial 24, village site.
23 Village site.
24 Burials 24 and 26, village site.
25 Burial 24, village site.
26 Village site.
27 West border of site.
28 Burial 27, village site.
29 Village site.
Tishomingo Cordmarked
30 Village site.
31 Burials 24 and 26, village site.
32 Feature 23, village site.
33 Village site.
34 Feature 23, village site.
35 Do.
74
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75
Plate 4. — Provenience of figures
Figure No. : Provenience Type
1 Mound B Tishomingo plain.
2 Burial 18, village site Do.
3 Village site Do.
4 do Do.
5 do Do.
6 do Houlka Gray.
7 Mound B Do.
8 Feature 19, village site Do.
9 Feature 10, mound B Do.
10 Feature 16, village site Marksville Stamped.
11 Mound D Alexander Incised.
12 Feature 19, village site Miscellaneous.
13 Mound B Do.
14 Feature 10, mound B Alexander Incised.
15 Mound D Miscellaneous.
16 Village site Do.
17 do Do.
18 Feature 19, village site Single cord impressed.
19 Feature 17, village site Do.
20 Village site Marksville Stamped.
21 Mound A Miscellaneous.
76
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19
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21
20
10 12 3 INCHES
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PLATE 4
77
Plate 5
Figure 1-4 — Spear points.
Figure 5-10 — Celts.
Figure 11 and 12— Large saltillo fabric impressed pottery fragments.
Plate 5. — Provenience of figures
Figure No . : Provenience
1 Feature 8, mound B.
2 Do.
3 Do.
4 Do.
5 Mound B.
6 Mound F.
7 Mound B.
8 Do.
9 Do.
10 Do.
11 Feature 17, village site.
12 Do.
78
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PLATE 5
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79
Plate 6.
Figure No
1. .
2..
3..
4..
5..
6..
7..
8..
9..
10.
11.
— Provenience of Chickasaw grave goods
Object Provenience
Shell gorget Burial 18, on neck.
Silver crown Burial 18, on head.
Powder flask spout Burial 18, thoracic area.
Galvanized iron cup Burial 18, on chest.
Glass beads Burial 25, upper body area.
. . . do Burial 17, body area.
Glass and shell beads Burial 20, neck.
Glass beads Burial 17, body area.
.... do Burial 19, neck.
do Burial 21, neck.
do Burial 22, neck.
80
81
Plate 7. — Provenience of ground stone artifacts
Figure No. : Object Provenience
1 Sandstone celt Village surface.
2 Drilled slate fragment Village, plow zone.
3 Discoidal fragment, hematite Village, 0.4 foot below plow
line.
4 Miniature greenstone celt. . . Feature 24, 0.1 foot below
plow line.
5 Smoothed and pitted sand- Mound B, 0.4 foot above
stone rock. feature 8 floor.
6 Pitted sandstone rock Village surface.
7 Mano or hand grinder, frag- Do.
ment.
8 Pitted sandstone rock Village, 0.6 foot below plow
line.
9 do Mound B, surface.
10 do Village, 0.4 foot below plow
line.
11 Metate or mortar Village surface.
12 do West border of mound A
surface.
82
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:
3 4
CFNTIMETE.RS
PLATE 7
83
Plate 8. — Provenience of figures
Figure No. : Provenience Sherd type
1 Fire pit, village site Fabric Impressed.
2 Feature 14, village site Do.
3 Feature 17, village site Do.
4 Village site Do.
5 do Do.
6 do Do.
7 Mound D Do.
8 Feature 19, village site Do.
9 Village site Furrs Cordmarked.
10 Burial 24, village site Do.
11 Village site Do.
12 Post mold, village site Do.
84
10
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PLATE 8
85
Plate 9. — Provenience of figures
Figure No.: Provenience Sherd type
1 Fire pit, village site Furrs Cordmarked.
2 do Do.
3 Feature 23, village site Do.
4 Refuse pit (burials 24 and Do.
26), village site.
5 Feature 23, village site Tishomingo Cordmarked.
6 do Do.
7 Refuse pit (burials 24 and Do.
26), village site.
8 Feature 23, village site Do.
9 Village site Do.
10 Fire pit, village site Do.
11 Feature 23 pit, village site. . Do.
12 Village site Do.
13 Mound B Do.
86
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PLATE 9
13
87
Plate 10. — Provenience of figures
Sherds
Figure No. : Provenience Typ*
1 Feature 19, village site Houlka Gray.
2 Village site Do.
3 Mound B Do.
4 Feature 23 pit, village site. . Do.
5 Mound B Miscellaneous.
6 do Do.
7 do Do.
8 Feature 19, village site Limestone.
9 Feature 23, village site Do.
10 Feature 19, village site Single cordmarked.
11 do Do.
12 Feature 8, mound B Miscellaneous.
13 Feature 10, mound B Do.
14 do Do.
15 Village site Do.
16 Feature 24, village site Do
Flaked Stone
17 Feature 19, plow line to 1 Fragment type indeterminate.
foot in mold.
18 Mound B border, 0.4 foot Type B.
below sod in fill.
19 Feature 24, surface to plow Stemless, copena type.
line.
20 Village, in sod Fragment, knife (?).
21 Feature 16 pit, 3 feet below Knife.
plow line.
22 Village surface Type B.
23 Village surface to plow line. Do.
24 do Do.
25 Village, 0.2 foot below Knife.
surface.
26 Village surface Knife or stemless point.
27 do Fragment knife.
88
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25 26
PLATE 10
89
Plate 1 1 . — Copper spools
Figure I a, b — Top and side view of copper spools as they probably appeared originally.
Figure 2 a-d — Component parts of a copper spool; 2a and 2d are crowns, 2b and 2c are flanged funnels.
Figure 3 — Copper spool with lead filling on both sides.
Figure 4 — Copper spool with only one side lead filled.
Figure 5 — Galena and clay filled spool, copied from Dejarnette (1941).
Figures 6 and 7 — Photographs of copper spools found in mound A.
90
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Plate 12
Figure l — Village site: Burial 22, an historic Chickasaw rectangular grave. Silver crescent gorget beneath jaw. Arrow points north. This burial was
intrusive upon feature 24 post mold circles.
Figure 2 — Village site: Burial 18, an historical Chickasaw rectangular grave containing male adult with silver crown, and a quantity of other grave goods, includ-
ing parts of a flint lock.
Figure 3. — Mound A, burial 1, showing copper spools on wrists. String covers skull fragments. Bones were badly decomposed.
Figure 4 — Village site: Burial 23 flexed adult in oval pit with numerous fresh-water shells.
92
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Plate 13. — Provenience of flaked stone artifacts
Figure No.: Type Provenience
1 D Village surface.
2 D Feature 14, post mold, 1-2
feet below plow line.
3 C Village, fire pit 0.5-1 foot
below plow line.
4 D Village site, plow line.
5 D Village surface.
6 Key drill Do.
7 Drill Village, surface to plow line.
8 D Village, 0.2 foot below plow
line.
9 D Village, plow line.
10 Side scraper Village surface.
11 do Do.
12 B Do.
13 Knife Do.
14 B Village, 0.4 foot below plow
line.
15 End scraper Mound A, 0.2 foot above
floor in mound fill.
16 Ovate blank Village, fire pit, plow line to
1.5 feet below.
17 do Feature 16, fire pit, 3 feet
below plow line.
94
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95
Plate 14. — Provenience of historic Chickasaw grave goods
Figure No. : "Type Provenience
1 Copper wire ear ornament. . . Burial 18, under head.
2 and 5 do Burial 18, by head.
3 and 4.. Pendants probably attached Do.
to ear ornaments Figs. 2
and 5.
6 Copper bells Burial 25, body area.
7 Silver brooch Burial 18, thoracic area.
8 Lead button Burial 25, body area.
9 Gun cock screw Burial 18, thoracic area.
10 Gunflint Burial 18, right arm.
11 Flint gunlock Do.
13 and 14 Knife blades Burial 18, thoracic area.
12 Iron spoon Burial 20.
15 Silver spoon Burial 17.
16 Iron tomahawk pipe Burial 18, near head.
17 Iron spike Burial 18, thoracic area.
18 Iron artifact Do.
19 Crescent gorget, silver Burial 22, lower neck.
96
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PLATE 14
97
Plate 15
Figure i — Mound A from south, before excavation. Men are standing in cellar pit.
Figure 2 — Mound A during excavation, with canvas covering enlarged cellarpit. Mound B appears at right. Village site is beyond mounds A and B.
Figure 3 — Mound A interior showing E. 1655 profile. Bottom of rod marks end of west long framing central burial group.
Figure 4 — Mound D showing central rectangular pit with branch molds at west rim and deep circular fire pit in middle. Three of the four deep post holes at
corners of primary pit have been excavated. Grid placed against E. 1760 profile.
98
99
Plate 16
Figure I — Mound B showing west rim of central pit (features 8 and 10 being developed beneath E. 1740 profile. Sagging of loads over central pit, loose and
pocketed fill immediately above pit floor is shown.
Figure 2 — Mound B from east. Central pit (features 8 and 10) exposed to E. 1745 profile.
Figure 3 — Mound B central pit after stripping floor to reveal deep post holes. Poles indicate slant of east ends of holes, which sometimes retained bark impres-
sions. Village site beyond and to left.
Figure 4 — Mound B central pit showing surface features, rim molds and artifacts intact
100
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101
Plate 17
Figure I — Village site: Feature 14 post mold circle, diameter 65 feet. Trench has been cut inside circle to section molds. Stakes mark molds inside circle,
which have been trenched around.
Figure 2 — Village site: Feature 22, post mold circle, diameter 14 feet.
Figure 3 — Village site: Feature 19 post mold circle, diameter 56 feet. Trench cut inside circle.
102
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103
Plate 18
Figure I — Removing master section of Mound B, central pit covered with canvas, mound A appears beyond.
Figure 2. — Mound B, central pit (feature 8) showing detail of floor. Burial 8, cremation at right. Between horizontal log molds is cache of seven flaked
points and four celts
Figure 3 — Village site: Feature 30, refuse pit, showing pot fragments.
Figure 4 — Mound A: Detail of feature 7 post mold circle beneath floor of northeast quadrant.
104
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105
Plate 19
(Upper) Facial and side views of No. 1 8 from the Bynum site. A middle-aged to old male from the historic Chickasaw reoccupation.
(Lower) Side view of No. 23 from the Bynum site. A middle-aged male from the prehistoric village site.
106
891131 O — 51 8
107
Plate 20
(Upper) Facial and side views of No. 19 from the Bynum site. A young adult female from the historic Chickasaw reoccupation.
(Lower) Facial and side views of the U. S. N. M. 377.995, a young adult female from a historic Chickasaw grave near Tupelo.
108
PLATE 20
109
r N D E X
Acorns — 48.
Adena: agreement of Bynum with — 55; complex — 32; galena — 39;
mounds — 38; post mold patterns — 51, 52.
Agriculture — 1, 55.
Alabama — 1, 20, 31, 32, 34, 37, 38, 40, 41, 45, 52, 56, 57.
Alexander Incised pottery — 17, 21, 23, 24, 27 29.
Alexander series — 30, 31, 32, 33, 54.
Anderson, Miss Joyce — IV.
Archaic— 33, 54, 57.
Atlatl — 1.
Baldwin Plain pottery — 9, 14, 17, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 54.
Baumer culture — 30.
Bobcat — 49.
Bone artifacts, lack of — 55.
Bone-tempered pottery — 22, 30.
Boyd Mounds — 2.
Burials: No. 1 — -6, 10, 42; No. 2 — 6, 10, 42; No. 3 — -6, 10, 42; No. 4 — 6,
10, 42; No. 5 — 9, 42; No. 6 — 9, 42; No. 7 — 9, 42; No. 8 — 14, 42, 43;
No. 9 — 9, 42; No. 10 — 9, 42; No. 11 — 14, 43; No. 12 — 14, 15, 43; No.
13 — 14, 15; No. 14 — 14, 15, 43; No. 15 — 14, 15, 43; No. 16 — 12, 14,
15, 29, 43; No. 17 — 10, 14, 15, 43, 44; No. 18 — 15, 43, 44, 50; No.
19 — 15, 43, 44; No. 20 — 15, 43, 44; No. 21 — 10, 14, 43; No. 22 — 10,
14, 16, 43, 44; No. 23 — 16, 43, 44, 50; No. 24 — 16, 29, 43, 44, 47, 50;
No. 25 — 10, 14, 16, 43; No. 26 — 16, 29, 43, 44, 47, 50; No. 27 — 16,
29; No. 28 — 16, 42; No. 29 — 16, 42; No. 30 — 9; Chickasaw — 2, 14, 15,
16; cremation — 2, 8, 9, 11, 16, 38, 53, 55; flesh — 2, 8, 11, 53, 54; flexed —
2,9, 11, 15, 53, 55.
Burial Mound I and II — 2, 33, 40, 41, 45, 57.
Bynum Mounds — 1; ecology of — 3; map of — VI; physiography of — 3.
Cane — 47.
Celts — 8, 9, 11, 39, 40, 57.
Chickasaw Indian — IV, 1, 2, 11, 12, 32, 33, 39, 40, 46, 52, 56, 57; cranial
deformation of — 45.
Chickasaw County — 2, 20, 31.
Chillicothe, Ohio — 36.
Chocktaw — 1, 42.
Coles Creek — 30, jj.
Collins, Henry B. — 31, 42, 51.
Copell period — 30, 33.
Copena focus — 37, 38, 40, 41, 56, 57; agreement of Bynum with — 55;
galena in sites of — 39; points — 39; post mold patterns of — 51, 52.
Copper. (See also Copper spools.) — 14, 15, 16, 55, 57; bead — 38, 53;
bells — 16; earrings — 16; working of — 36, 37, 38.
Copper spools — 6, 8, 9, 11, 36, 38, 53, 55; method of lead filling — 37.
Corn, absence of — 57.
Crandall Mound skeletal material — 45.
Cremation. (See Burials.)
Crooks site — 20, 38, 39, 40, 41, 52.
Cups: pewter — 16; tin — 14.
Dallas focus — 40, 41.
Deasonville site — 31, 39, 41, 52; complex — 31; post mold pattern of — 51.
Deer — 3, 49.
Dejarnettc, David L. — 32, 36, 37.
Domestic cat — 49.
Drury, Newton B. — V.
Duck River — 52.
Dunlap Fabric Impressed pottery — 31.
Etowah, Ga. — 31.
Features: No. 1 — 6; No. 2 — 6; No. 3—6; No. 5 — 6; No. 7 — 6, 10, 11, 12,
22, 33, 34; No. 8 — 6, 11, 14, 16, 20, 22, 40, 41, 47; No. 10 — 21, 22;
No. 11 — 21; No. 14 — 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 33, 34; No. 16 — 12, 20, a, 34:
No. 17 — 12, 21, 33, 47; No. 19 — 11, 12, 13, 20, 26, 33, 34, 37; No. 20 —
11, 12, 13, 20, 26, a; No. 21 — 12, 13, 26, 33, 34; No. 22 — 11, 12, 13,
26, 34; No. 23 — 12, 27, 33, 34, 50; No. 24 — 10, 11, 12, 21, 27, 33, 34,
40, 50; No. 25 — 10, 14, 28, 33, 34; No. 26 — 14, 28, 33, 34; No. 27 — 14,
28, a, 34, 37; No. 28—14, 28, a, 34; No. 29—14, 28, 33, 34; No. 30—
14, 28, a, 34; No. 31—9; No. 32—9, 10, 29, 33, 34; No. 33—14, 21,
29, 34; No. 34 — 9, 10; No. 35 — 9, 10, 11, 29, a, 34; No. 36 — 9; No.
37, — 14, 29, 34; summary of — chart 3, p. 34.
Fiber-tempered pottery — 21, 31, 33, 54.
Files — 15.
Flint — 15.
Ford, James A. — 20, 30, 32, 54.
Fox— 3, 49.
Furrs Cordmarked pottery — 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28,
29. 3°> 31. 32, 33. 34. 54-
Galena — 8, 57; in copper spools — 36, 37, 38.
Gardner, Malcolm — IV.
Glass beads — 14, 15, 16.
Goodhall focus — 39.
Gordon Mounds — 2.
Griffin, James B. — 20, 30, 31, 32, 54, 57.
Grinders — 40. (See also Lithic artifacts.)
Guntersville Basin — 37, 54.
Hamilton focus — 39, 40, 41, 57.
Harmon's Creek Cordmarked pottery — 31.
Harrington, J. C. — IV.
Hematite: chunky stone — 40.
Hickory nuts — 47.
Hiwassee Island focus — 38, 40; post mold pattern of — 51.
Holditch, Sidney— IV.
Honey locust beans — 47.
Hopewell: burials — 37; copper spools — 38; general — 57; lithic material — 41.
Houlka Creek — 2, 11.
Houlka Gray pottery — 14, 17, 19, 20, 23, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 34.
Houses — 1. (See also Post mold patterns.)
Houston, Miss. — IV, 1.
Hrdlicka, Ales — 42.
Itawamba County — 54.
Jennings, Dr. Jesse D. — IV, 1, 17, 18, 19, 22, 30, 31, 32, 35, 39, 40, 41,
5>. 54. 55-
Knives — 15.
Lancaster, Parker — IV.
Lead: rifle balls — 15, 16.
Lee County — 17, 18, 19,
Lewis and Kneberg — 39 40, 52.
Lewis, T. M. N. — 51, 53.
Limestone Tempered pottery — 17, 20, 21, 23, 26, 27, 30, 31, 34; series — 30, 33.
Lithic artifacts: arrow point types — 39; discussion of — 39, 40, 41, 55; drills —
40; flaked stone — 39; greenstone celts — 40; ground stone — 40; hematite —
40; knives — 40; manos — 40; metates — 40; mortars — 40; pitted (nut)
stones — 40; scrapers — 40; slate pendant — 40; spear point types — 39; type
stone used — 41.
(See also Galena.)
30, 31, 32, 35, 39, 40, 41, 51, 52, 54, 55, 56.
Ill
Long Branch Fabric Marked pottery — 31.
Los Angeles County Museum — IV.
Manos — 40.
Marksville Incised pottery — 17, 23.
Marksville period — 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 39, 40, 57.
Marksville Stamped pottery — 12, 17, 20, 23, 51, 54.
McDougall, Dr. W. B.— 3.
McKelvey scries — 30, 33.
McQuorquodale Mound — 40, 41, 57.
McVay, Dr. T. N.— 36, 37.
MCs-4, site of — 31, 54.
Metallurgy — 55. (See also Copper; Galena; Silver.)
Metates — 40.
Middle Mississippi — 22.
Miller periods— 32, 33, 35, 39, 40, 41, 54, 57.
Minority type pottery — -20.
Miscellaneous pottery types — 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27.
Mississippi — 1, 30, 31, 40, 42, 57.
Mississippi State Highway Commission — IV, 3.
MLe-62, site of — 54, 55.
Mobile Bay — 54.
Mollusks. (See Shell.)
Morrison, Dr. J. P. E. — 50.
Mortar stones — 40.
Mounds — 2, 5, 8, 9.
Mound A — 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 20, 22, 23, 30, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 40,
42, 51, 53, 54, 57; analysis of pottery — 22; burials — 6, 10, 42, 43, 44,
45, 46; chronological position of — 34.
Mound B — 6, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 33, 36, 37, 38, 40,
41, 42, 50, 51, 53, 54, 57; analysis of pottery — 23; burials — 9, 42, 43, 44,
45, 46; chronological position of — 34; vegetal remains — 47.
Mount C — 9, 32, 51, 53.
Mound D — 2, 9, 11, 18, 20, 21, 29, 30, 31, 32, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 51,
53> 54> 57! analysis of pottery from — 24; burials — 9; chronological posi-
tion of — 34.
Mound E — 9, 11, 32, 51, 53.
Mound F — 9, 11, 32, 51, 53; analysis of pottery from — 24; chronological
position of — 34.
Moundville, Ala.: points — 39.
Nashville, Tenn. — V.
Natchez, Miss: city of — V, 2, 34; period — 30, 33.
Natchez Trace — V, 41.
Natchez Trace Parkway — IV, V, 1,2, 12, 34, 57.
National Museum — 42, 45, 46, 50.
National Park Service — V, 1.
Newman, Dr. Marshall T. — 15, 42, 53, 54.
Norris Basin — 31.
Nut stones — 40.
Opposum — 3, 49.
Passion flower — 47.
Pendants — 15.
Pharr Mounds — 2.
Pickwick Basin — 21, 30, 31, 33, 34, 37, 39, 40, 41, 52, 54.
Pickwick Complicated Stamped pottery — 20.
Pipes, lack of — 54.
Placquemine period — 30, 33.
Points: arrow — 16, 39; spear — 8, 11, 39.
Pontotoc County — 54.
Pontotoc Ridge — 2, 3.
Post mold patterns: discussion of — 51, 52, 53.
Pottery — 1, 2; analysis of by burials — 29; analysis of by features — 22, 25, 26,
27, 28, 29; analysis of by mounds — 22, 23, 24; as grave goods, lack of — 56;
sequence at Bynum — 31, 34, 35.
Pottery types: Alexander Incised — 17, 21, 23, 24, 27, 29; Baldwin Plain — 9,
14, 17, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 54; Furrs Cord-
112
marked — 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33,
34, 54; Harmon's Creek Cordmarked — 31; Houlka Gray — 14, 17, 19, 20,
23, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 34; Limestone Tempered — 17, 20, 21, 23, 26, 27,
30, 31, 34; series — 33; Long Branch Fabric Marked — 31; Marksville In-
cised — 17, 23; Marksville Stamped — 12, 17, 20, 23, 51, 54; minority
types — 20; miscellaneous — 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27; Pickwick Compli-
cated Stamped — 20; Saltillo Fabric Impressed — 12, 14, 17, 18, 20, 22, 23,
24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 54; Single Cord Impressed — 17, 21,
23, 26, 27; Tishomingo Cordmarked — 12, 14, 17, 19, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27,
28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 54; Tishomingo Plain — 12, 14, 17, 20, 22, 23,
26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 54; Wilson Plain — 22; Wright Check
Stamp — 20.
Prentiss County — 54.
Quimby, George I. — 32, 39.
Raccoon — 3, 49.
Rifles— 15.
Saltillo Fabric Impressed pottery — 12, 14, 17, 18, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29,
30, 31, 32, a, 34, 54.
Setzer, Dr. Henry W. — 3, 49.
Shell — 3, 8, 12, 16, 54; analysis of material — 50; gorget — 15; hoes — 50, 55.
Shell Tempered series — 33.
Silver: buckle — 15; crown — 15.
Single Cord Impressed pottery — 17, 21, 23, 26, 27.
Sketetal material. (See also Burials.) Deformation — 45; dental pathol-
ogy — 46; method of study — 42; report by Newman — 42; summary of — 46;
Temple Mound I types — 45; Temple Mound II types — 45.
Slate: pendant fragment — 40.
Smith, H. R.— IV.
Snakes, list of — 3.
Spoons — 14, 15, 16.
Squier and Davis— -36, 41.
Stone, John C— IV.
Stone tools. (See Lithic artifactts.)
Tchefuncte — 30, 31, 32, 33, 39, 40, 52, 54; agreement of Bynum with — 56.
Temple Mounds I and II — a, 42; skeletal material from — 45.
Tennessee — 1, 31, 34, 38, 40, 54, 57.
Textiles. (See Thread.)
Thread, remains of — 37.
Tishomingo Cordmarked pottery — 12, 14, 17, 19, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29,
30, 31, 32, a, 34, 54.
Tishomingo Plain pottery — 12, 14, 17, 20, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33,
34, 54-
Tomahawk pipe — 15.
Tombigbee River — 2, 41, 54.
Trace — V, 2, 34.
Troyville period — 30, 31, 33.
Tupelo, Miss. — 1, 30.
Two Run Creek — 3 1 .
"Uncle Joe" Bynum — 2.
Village site: map of — 4.
Wauchope, Robert — 31.
Webb, William S. — 32, 37, 38, 40; Adena trait list — 55; Copena trait list — 55.
Wheeler Basin — 31, 39, 40.
Wheeler series — 30.
Willey, Gordon R. — 20, 30, 32.
Wilson Plain pottery — 22.
Wimberly, Steve B. — 37.
Woodland pattern — 31, 32, 39, 56, 57.
Woodward, Arthur — IV, 15.
Wright Check Stamp pottery — 20.
Yazoo Valley — 31, 39, 51, 56.
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : O — 1951
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